Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 04.djvu/94

 then dwells on the necessity of evangelical christianity to his old comrade of the light division. He had been promoted colonel in 1837, and major-general in 1846, but continued to live at La Torre till his death, 19 July 1862, when his funeral was attended by thousands of the peasants, whose lives he had made happy and cheerful. Of all the officers of the light division none found such a strange mode of employing his unexhausted energies, and few did such a great and self-denying work.

 BECKWITH, JOHN CHRISTMAS (1750–1809), organist, born at Norwich 25 Dec, 1750, was for many years pupil and assistant successively of Dr. Wm. Hayes and Dr. Philip Hayes at Magdalen College, Oxford. On 16 Jan. 1794 he was appointed organist of St. Peter Mancroft's, Norwich. He took both the Mus. Bac. and Mus. Doc. degrees at Oxford in 1803, and in 1808 succeeded Thomas Garland as organist of the Norwich Cathedral. Beckwith retained both his organist's appointments until his death, which occurred in consequence of a paralytic stroke on 3 June 1809. He was buried in St. Peter Mancroft's. Beckwith's compositions are not numerous, consisting principally of anthems, organ voluntaries, a concerto, sonata, &c. His most important work was a collection of chants adapted to the Psalms, and published in 1808, which contains an excellent preface on the subject of chanting. As an organist he took very high rank in his day. Professor Taylor said of him: 'I have never heard Dr. Beckwith's equal upon the organ either in this county or in Germany. &hellip; Neither is this my opinion only, but that of every competent judge who has heard him;' and another critic described his playing as 'brilliancy itself.' He had a remarkable power of extemporising, and would frequently play four extempore organ fugues at one Sunday's services. There is some doubt as to whether Dr. Beckwith was christened John Christmas, or whether his second name was only a nickname. In the works published by him in his lifetime he is always described as John Beckwith, but in the register of his burial the name is stated as 'John Christmas Beckwith, married man, an organist of this parish;' and it is by this name that he is generally known.

 BECKWITH, JOSIAH (b. 1734), antiquary, was born at Rothwell, near Leeds, on 24 Aug. 1734, where his father, Thomas Beckwith, practised as on attorney. He was himself brought up to the same profession, and settled at Masbrough, near Rotherham. He married in August 1763 the eldest daughter and only surviving child of George D'Oxon, of Woodhead, in Cheshire, by whom he had two sons and four daughters, his wife's death taking place in 1788 at the early age of 49. He seems to have been possessed of considerable natural powers, which, together with a large share of acquired knowledge, rendered him eminently fitted for antiquarian pursuits, for which he had a great taste. His name is known to the world in connection with the enlarged and improved edition of Blount's 'Fragmenta Antiquitatis, or Ancient Tenures of Land and Jocular Customs of some Manors,' which he published in the year 1784, the first edition of this work having appeared in 1679. Speaking of Beckwith's edition, the 'Monthly Review' (lxxiii. 459) remarks: 'Few persons were better qualified for this business, and Mr. Beckwith has enriched this edition with many valuable improvements. He has subjoined many notes and observations, which have been communicated by some of the most respectable antiquaries of the present day.' He left materials for a still further enlarged edition, which was published after his death by his son, who had an appointment in the mint.

 BECKWITH, THOMAS SYDNEY (1772–1831), who with Craufurd shares the honour of being one of the finest leaders of light troops ever known, was the third son of Major-general John Beckwith, who commanded the 20th regiment at Minden, and four of whose sons became distinguished general officers. He was appointed lieutenant in the 71st regiment in 1791, and at once proceeded to join it in India. He found Lieutenant-colonel Baird in command of the regiment, and under him learned both how to lead and how to organise a regiment. With the 71st he was present at the siege of Seringapatam in 1792, at the capture of Pondicherry by Colonel Baird in 1793, and during the operations in Ceylon in 1795. He was promoted captain in 1794, and returned to England with the head-quarters of his regiment