Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/270

 BEDFORD.

BEE.

a meml>er of the Continental Congress (1783-'S6), and of the convention that framed the constitution of the United States. He was also elected attorney general of Delaware. In 17^9. and again in I75t:{. he was a presidential elector. In 1789 he was appointed U. S. district judge by President Washingt<in. and this position he held until his death, which iK-curred March 30, 1812.

BEDFORD, Qunning S., physician, was born in Baltimore. Md.. 180G; a grand-nephew of Gun- ning liedford. Jr.. jurist. He was graduated from Mount St. Mary's college. Emmittsburg, Md., in 1825, as honor man, and from Rutgers medical college in 1829. During 1831 and 1832 he studied in the hospitals of Europe, and upon his return spent some three years teaching in the medical colleges at Charleston, S. C, and Albany, N. Y. He made a specialty of obstetrics, and after his removal to New York, in 1836, he established a considerable practice. The custom of holding obstetrical clinics where indigent women may obtain free medical advice and treatment was initiated in the United States by Dr. Bedford. He was also instrumental, in connection with Dr. Valentine Mott, in establishing the University medical college. New York, in 1840. and he was professor of obstetrics in that institution until 1><62. His " Diseases of Women and Children " and his " Principles and Practice of Obstetrics "' passed through several English and American editions, were translated into French and Ger- man, and became standard authorities. He translated and edited Chailly's "Midwifery,"' Magrier's " Anatomy, " Bandelocque on " Puer- peral Fever,'" Boisseau on " Cholera,"' and several other French works of great importance. His death occurred in New York city, Sept. 5. 1870.

BEDINQER, George Michael, representative, was hxirn in Virginia about HoO. He emigrated to Kentucky, when that state was a A^-ilderness, and settled near what became known as Blue Licks. In the engagement against Chillicothe, in 1779, he served as adjutant, and three years later was major at the battle of Blue Licks. He alsfi fought in Drake"s regiment in 1791, later in the .same year was commander of the Win- chester battalion of sharpshooters in the St. Clair exf)edition. and from April 11, 1792, to Feb. 28, 1793, commanded the third sub-legion of United States infantry. In 1792 he was a member of the state hou.se of representatives, and was elected a representative in the 8th and 9th U. S. congresses. He died at I>r,wf^r Blue Licks, Ky., in 1880.

BEDINQER, Henry, diplomatist, was born near ShHi>herd.stwn. Va.. in 1810; .son of George Michael Bedinger, representative. He was admit- ted to the bar in 1832, and e.stabli.shed him.self in his profession at Shepherdstown, removing later to Charlestown. Va. He represented his district

in the 29th and 30th U. S. congresses from 184.-)-"49. He served during 1853 as U. S. charge d'affaires lit Denmark, anil was then appointed res- ident minister at Denmark, where he was instru- mental in bringing about the treaty abolishing Sound Dues. He returned to America, Aug. 10, 1858, and died in his native town, Nov. 26, 1858.

BEDLE, Joseph Dorsett, governor of New Jersey, w;ts lM)rii at Middletown Point, N. J.. Jan. 5, ISSl. After acquiring an academical edu- cation he spent some time in the study of the law with William L. Dayton, Trenton, N. J., and at the Ballston Spa (N. Y. ) law school ; was admitted to practise in the supreme court of New Jersey in 1853. He practised for a short time in Middle- town Point, and opened a law office at Freehold, N. J., in 1855, where he remained ten years. In 1865 he was appointed by Governor Parker a justice of the New Jersey supreme court. His cir- cuit being in the northern part of the state, he made his home in Jersey City. He was reap- IK)inted as justice in 1872, and was elected by the Democratic party governor of the state in 1874. The College of New Jersey conferred upon him the degree of LL.D. in 1875. After his term of office as governor had expired, in 1878. he retired from public life and practised his profession imtil his death, which occurred Oct. 21, 1894.

BEE, Bernard E., soldier, was born at Charles- ton, S. C, aloout 1823. In 1845 he was graduated from the military academy at West Point and was brevetted 2d lieutenant of infantry. He served in the military occupation of Texas in 1845-'46, and in the Mexican war from 1846-'48, being engaged in the battles of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Churubusco and Chapultepec. receiving for his service in the last-named engagement the brevet rank of cap- tain. He afterwards served in garri.-^on and on frontier duty in Utah, Dakota and Minnesota, until March 3, 1861, when he resigned to join the Confederate army. He was given the rank of brigadier -general, and commanded the South Carolina troops at the battle of Bull Run, Va., July 21. 1861. During tliis battle his l)rigade became demoralized and began to fall back in confu.sion. He rode up to Gen. T. J. Jackson, who cxjmmanded a Virginia brigade, and said: "They are beating us back."" "Then,"' said Jack-son, "we will give them the bayonet." General Bee rode back to his command, and with the words: "Look at Jackson! There he stands like a stone wall! Rally behind the Virginians." he led his men to another charge. Tlie sight of Jack.son"s troops gave them courage, and the in- cident gave Jackson the immortal sobriquet, "Stonewall."' Bee was killed at the head of his brigade while cheering on his men. The date of his death is July 21, 1861.