Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/279

 BELASCO.

BELKNAP.

succeeded the Rev, Dr. H. M. Scudder in the cliarge of the Central Congregational cliurcli at Brookl3-n, N. Y. Dr. Belirends is the author of "Socialism and Christianity" (1886), and "The Philosophy of Preacliing" (1890). He died in Brooklyn, N. Y., May 23, 1900.

BELASCO, David, playwright, was born in San Francisco, Cal., in 1858, of English parents. His boyhood was passed in Vancouver, British Columbia, under the care of a Catholic priest. He was graduated from Lincoln college, California, and accepted an offer from a theatrical company that was to play in western towns. He travelled with them in the capacity of general utility man, and returning to San Francisco in 1878 he was appointed stage director of the Baldwin theatre, the Bush Street theatre, and the Grand Opera House, respectively. As a playwright he was uniformly successful, as attested by the popularity of his "Hearts of Oak," " La Belle Russe," " May Blossom," "Lord Chumley," "Valerie," "The Wife," " The Charity Ball " (written with Henry de Mille) ; " Men and Women," " The Girl I Left Beliind Me," " The Heart of Maryland," "Zaza," •" Du Barry," and " The Darling of the Gods."

BELCHER, Jonathan, colonial governor, was born at Cambridge, Mass., Jan. 8, 1681, son of Andrew Belcher, a member of the Provincial council. He graduated at Harvard in 1699, and afterwards visited England, where he remained six years. Upon his return to his native land he settled in Boston as a merchant, became a mem- ber of the Provincial council, and, in 1729, was ap- pointed by the general assembly agent of the prov- ince in England, and wliile there, in 1730, was com-

GOVERNOR BELCHER'S HOUSE.

missioned governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. His administration was unpopular by reason of his extravagant style of living and de- mands for a large salary. In 1741 his enemies succeeded in having him removed, whereupon he repaired to the British court, and had little trouble in regaining the favor of the king, who had been his warm personal friend. In 1747 he "was appointed governor of New Jersey, a position

which he held until his death. He enlarged the charter of the College of New Jersey, was its chief friend and benefactor in its early days, and bequeathed to it his valuable library. He died at Elizabethtown, N. J., Aug. 31, 1757.

BELDEN, James Jerome, representative, was born in Fabius, N. Y., Sept. 30, 1825, son of Royal Denison Belden, direct descendant of Richard Bayldon, of Yorkshire, England, who came to Wethersfield, Conn., in 1635. In 1850 he went to California, where he engaged in commercial affairs. In 1853 he returned to Syracuse, N. Y., where he mar- ried Anna, daughter of Robert Gere. Mr. Belden. in connec- tion with his brother (A. Caldwell Belden), Robert Gere, and Dr. Henry D. Denison, had large contracts in the construction of ' public works in the United States and Canada. His firm built the first street railways of Detroit, the Syracuse North- ern railroad, and part of the West Shore railroad, the Groton reservoir, improved Hell Gate and the canals of the State of New York, and enlarged the Welland canal. He was elected Mayor of Syracuse in 1877, serv- ing two terms. In 1886 he was elected as a rep- resentative to the 50th Congress, was re-elected to the 51st, 52d and 53d, declined a nomination to the 54th, and in 1896 was elected to the 55th Congress. In 1880 he. with his brother, founded the Robert Gere Bank in Syracuse. In New York city and Syracuse, N. Y., where he had large real-estate interests, he was well known for his qmet benevolence. He was trustee of the Syra- cuse university, charter member and officer of the order of the Foimders and Patriots of America, and member of the Sons of the American revolution.

BELKNAP, Charles Eugene, representative, was born at Massena, St. Lawrence coiinty, N. Y., Oct. 17, 1846. He removed with his parents to Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1855; was educated in the common schools of Grand Rapids ; left school Aug. 14, 1863, and enlisted in the 21st regiment, Michigan infantry, as a private: was promoted for meritorious conduct in battle, and received a captain's commission Jan. 22, 1864, when only seventeen years old. He served imtil June, 1865, with the army of the Cumberland, and was wounded seven times. He returned to Grand