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BANCROFT. and gave himself up to historical work on a large scale, employing numerous assistants to explore and index his vast collection. Besides preserving the materials for the history of the Pacific region, he has published a monumental series of historical works with the aid of his collaborators, covering the history of Alaska, California, Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington, several large volumes being devoted to the more important States. In addition he has published The Native Races of the Pacific States (1874-75), and liistories of Central America (1882), Mexico (1883), and British Columbia (1887), besides Essays and Miscellanies (1890), and Literary Industries (1890), the last-named giving an account of his labors.

BANCROFT, Marie Effie Wilton, Lady. An English actress and manager. She was born at Doncaster, and as a child appeared on the stage with her parents, who were both actors. Among her early parts was that of Fleance in Macbeth (1846). After several years in the provincial towns she made her London debut, September 15, 1856, at the Lyceum, as the boy Henri, in Belphegor, playing the same night in Perdita: or, the Royal Milkmaid. She won great popularity in several boy characters, in burlesques at various theatres, as Cupid in two different plays, and notably as Pippo, in the Maid and the Magpie, by H. J. Byron (q.v.), at the Strand Theatre (1858). For several years she remained at the Strand, taking numerous parts of the same general type. In April. 1865, she began, in partnership with Mr. Byron, the management of the Prince of Wales's Theatre, having secured as a leading actor Squire Bancroft (q.v.), whom she had met shortly before in Liverpool. The house soon became noted for its series of successful comedies by T. W. Robertson, realistically depicting certain features of the social life of the day, and staged with unusual attention to naturalness of de- tail. In successive vears they have brought out Society (1865), Ours (1866), Caste (1867), Play (1868), School (1869), and M. P. (1870). Miss Wilton, who in 1867 became Mrs. Bancroft, regularly took the principal female parts in these pieces, her husband being leading man. Some of her best-known rôles were Mary Netley, in Ours; Polly Eccles, in Caste; and Naomi Tighe, in School; and also Lady Teazle in The School for Scandal (revived 1874); Zicka, in Diplo- macy (1878); and Nan, in Sweethearts (1879).

Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft likewise presented at their theatre a number of prominent actors, among them Hare, Coghlan, the Kendals, and Miss Terry. In 1880 they moved to the Haymarket Theatre, a larger house, where they continued the successful presentation of modern comedy. July 20, 1885, they retired from the stage, and have since very rarely appeared, though in 1893 Mrs. Bancroft took part with her husband (who was knighted in 1897) in the revival of Diplomacy at the Garrick Theatre. She is the author of many of the most interesting portions of the volume of reminiscences called Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft On and Off the Stage, Written by Themselves (London, 1888).

BANCROFT, (1544-1610). An English prelate. Archbishop of Canterbury. He was born at Farnworth, Lancashire, and was a grandnephew of Hugh Curwen, Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Oxford, who sent him to Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1567, and M.A. in 1570. He was admitted D.D. in 1575. His first charge was the rectorship of Feversham, and a rapid succession of preferments led to his induction as Bishop of London in 1597. In this capacity he attended Queen Elizabeth during her last illness. He was named 'chief overseer' of the commission appointed by King .James I. for the revision of the Bible. He became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1604, and Chancellor of Oxford University in 1608. A bitter opponent of Puritanism, he vigorously asserted the divine origin of episcopacy, and was arbitrary in his enforcement of conformity. He was a man of considerable attainments, an eloquent preacher, and a dignified statesman.

BANCROFT, Sir, K.B. (1841—). An English actor and manager, born in London. He began his dramatic career in Birmingham in 1861. After playing for some time in Dublin and Liverpool he was invited to London by H. J. Byron and Miss Wilton, and made his first appearance at the Prince of Wales's Theatre, in April, 1865. His sulisequent history is in constant connection with that of Miss Wilton, whom he married in December, 1867. (See .) He continued with Mrs. Bancroft in the management of the Prince of Wales's Theatre, and, after 1880, the Haymarket, till July, 1885, when they retired together. After that his chief appearances were at the Lyceum in The Dead Heart, with Irving (1889), and in February, 1893, at the Garrick, in Diplomacy. He was knighted in 1897. Consult Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft On and Off the Stage, Written by Themselves (London, 1888).

BANCROFT, ( 1867—). An American chemist, born in Middletown, R. I. He graduated at Harvard in 1888 (A.B.), did a year of graduate work there (1888-89), and four vears of special work in Strassburg, Leipzig, Berlin, and Amsterdam (1889-93). In 1892 he was given the degree of Ph.D. at Leipzig. He was assistant in chemistry at Harvard in 1889-90, instructor in chemistry there in 1894-95. In 1895 he was appointed assistant professor of physical chemistry at Cornell. He founded and became editor of the Journal of Physical Chemistry in 1895. His publications include The Phase Rule (1897).

BAND. See.

BAND (from bind). In architecture, the general name given to any kind of flat architectural member in relief continued horizontally along a wall or other part of a structure. The

BAND OF A COLUMN.