Page:Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography Volume 1.pdf/531

BEN Frederick of Urbino honoured him with their friendship, and he enjoyed the esteem and affection of all the literary men of his time. The works left by this eminent man amount to twenty, amongst which the most esteemed are—"L'Alvida," a pastoral fable; "Il Canzoniero;" "La Vittoria Navale," an epic poem. He died at Gubbio in 1663.—A. C. M.  BENASCHI,, was born in Piedmont in 1634. He studied at Rome, where he was knighted, under Pietro del Po, a pupil of Domenicheno. He either studied under Lafranc, or at least copied and rivalled that pupil of the Caracci, whose style, manner, and touch he imitated. He was a rapid and inventive designer. He died in 1688.—W. T.  BENAVIDES,, a Spanish Franciscan, author of an "Account of the Treasures discovered in Mexico," lived in the first half of the seventeenth century.  BENAVIDES (in Latin BENAVIDIUS),, an eminent Italian jurist, professor in the university of Padua, was born in that city in 1489, and died in 1582. His celebrity brought him tempting offers from Pope Paul III., and from the Academy of Bologna, but nothing could induce him to leave his native city. He was raised to the dignity of count palatine by Charles V. in 1545, and knighted by Pope Paul IV. in 1560. Besides his professional treatises, he published some literary works of considerable merit.—J. S., G.  BENAVIDES,, son of an officer, was born in Barbary in 1637. He studied under Rizi, and painted house frescos, and scenes for the Buenretiro theatre. Charles II., in 1691, appointed him to the barren honour of court painter, unsalaried. He died in 1703.—W. T.  BENBOW,, one of those illustrious men, who by their conduct and bravery, laid the foundation of England's naval supremacy, was born about 1650, of an ancient and honourable house in Shropshire. His family suffered for their loyalty to the crown during the civil wars, and his father died when he was very young, so that he had no provision but his profession as a seaman, in which he was so successful, that at thirty he was master and part owner of a merchant ship, called the Benbow Frigate, which traded to the Mediterranean. While commanding this vessel he was attacked by a Sallee rover, whose men boarded his ship, but were bravely beaten out, leaving behind thirteen of their number dead, whose heads Benbow ordered to be cut off, and thrown into a tub of pork pickle. On his arrival at Cadiz, a negro servant carried the heads ashore in a sack. Benbow refused to show the contents to the custom-house officers, who took him before the magistrates. These functionaries were startled at the sight of the men's heads, and reported the circumstances to the court of Madrid. Charles II., king of Spain, requested to see the English captain who had so bravely defended himself. Benbow was received with great respect at the court, and a letter was written in his behalf to King James, who upon his return gave him a ship, and thus he was introduced to the royal navy. After the Revolution he was constantly employed cruising in the channel, protecting the English trade, and distressing that of the French. He displayed the most intrepid courage in bombarding the French forts, going in person in his boat to encourage the engineers. His vigour recommended him to King William, who was a good judge of men, and he was early promoted to a flag, and trusted with the blockade of Dunkirk. In 1695 he was thus employed when the famous Jean Bart had the good luck to escape him with nine sail of ships. Rear-Admiral Benbow followed him as well as he could, and soon heard that Bart had taken a large fleet of Dutch merchantmen, because the Dutch would not take his advice. On other occasions a similar neglect on the part of the government at home promoted the interests of the French. After the peace of Ryswick, King William sent him to protect the colonies of the West Indies, which were in a defenceless condition. He was also desired to watch the Spanish galleons. Arrived in the West Indies he overawed the Spaniards by his bravery, and then went in quest of Kidd, a celebrated pirate. On returning to England he was much consulted by William III., and soon promoted to the rank of vice-admiral of the blue. The politics of Europe were complicated. It was necessary to take measures in order to disappoint the French in their views upon the Spanish succession, and accordingly a squadron was sent to the West Indies. Benbow was suggested as a proper person to undertake the command, but William was reluctant to part from him. None else were willing to undertake so arduous a post, upon which the king said merrily, alluding to the dress and demeanour of those who shrank from it—"Well then, I find we must spare our beaus and send honest Benbow! "The admiral's squadron, consisting of two third and eight fourth rates, arrived at Barbadoes on the 3d November, 1701. Here he showed extraordinary skill in attacking Admiral du Casse. In one engagement his right leg was broken to pieces by a chain shot. As soon as it was practicable, he caused himself to be carried up and placed with his cradle on the quarter-deck, and continued the fight until the next day. But one of his captains who owed him a private grudge, persuaded the rest to retire from the battle, though they had a fair opportunity of destroying the enemy's whole squadron. The sturdy admiral brought them to a court-martial, and they suffered according to their deserts. Though so far recovered from the fever induced by his broken leg, as to be able to attend the trials of the captains who deserted him, his health declined. He continued discharging his duties till the last moment of his life. He died November 4, 1702. He is one of the greatest favourites with our seamen, because he was a sailor, rose by being a sailor, and was prouder of being a sailor than of bearing an admiral's flag. He left behind him a small fortune, and a great reputation.—T. J.  BENBOW,, the son of the preceding, was very early unfortunate, for he was shipwrecked on the coast of Madagascar in the same year that his father died; where after many dangerous adventures, he was reduced to live among the natives for many years; and at last, when he least expected it, was rescued by a Dutch captain out of respect for the memory of his father, and brought safe to England, when his relations thought him dead. He is said to have written a complete description of the south part of the island of Madagascar. He passed his last days in privacy, and died without issue.—T. J.  BENCHAIM,, an Italian rabbi of the fifteenth century. His edition of the bible, printed in the square character, punctuated and accented, is considered the first complete edition of the Hebrew text. It was published at Soncino in 1488. Four copies of the work are known to exist, two at Rome, one in the library of the grand-duke of Tuscany, and one in that of the margrave of Durlach.—J. S., G. <section end="531H" /> <section begin="531I" />BENCI,, an Italian jesuit, born at Aquapendente in 1512; died in 1594. His orations and poems are commended for their rich and elegant Latinity. <section end="531I" /> <section begin="531J" />BENCIVENNI,, an Italian litterateur, born in 1731; died in 1808. Author of a "Life of Dante," and other works. <section end="531J" /> <section begin="531K" />BENCOVICH,, a Dalmatian; studied at Bologna under Carlo Cignani, an eclectic, who tried to unite Guido's colour and Albano's grace, of which he made an insipid whole. His best work is the "Martyrdom of St. Andrew" at Bologna. <section end="531K" /> <section begin="531Zcontin" />BENDA,, a violinist, was born at Altbenatka in Bohemia, November 25, 1709, and died at Potsdam, March 7, 1786. He was the son of a weaver, who played on several musical instruments, and the eldest of four brothers, who were all, as well as their sister Anna Francisca, one of the most famous singers of her time, distinguished in music. He had a beautiful soprano voice, on account of which he was selected from the choir of St. Nicholas at Prague, where his singing had attracted attention, to fill a place in the chapel of the elector of Saxony at Dresden. Being unhappy in his new situation, he asked permission to return, but this was denied him, on account of the value of his services; after eighteen months, however, he ran away, and had escaped to some distance, when he was recognized, arrested, and carried back to Dresden. From the fatigue of his journey, or the anxiety of his situation, he lost his voice, and, being no longer useful, soon obtained the dismissal he desired. Arrived in Prague, his voice returned to him, and he obtained an engagement in the seminary of jesuits, where his talent drew general notice, and where he produced a "Salve Regina," his first composition. On the final breaking of his voice, he visited his family in his native village, whence he started with a party of itinerant musicians to play at dances, or on what better occasions he might find opportunity. Among these was Löwel, a Jew, who gave him his first instruction on the violin. Soon tiring of a vagabond life, he tried to establish himself at Prague, where he took lessons on his instrument of Konyczek. He went at nineteen, in hopes of more settled employment, to Vienna, where he met with Franciscello the violoncellist, from whom he learned much in style and mechanism. He found several patrons, <section end="531Zcontin" />