The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Beche, Henry de la

BECHE, bāsh, Henry de la, English geologist: b. 1796; d. 1855. He founded the geological survey of Great Britain, which was soon undertaken by the government, De la Beche being appointed director-general. He also founded the Jermyn Street Museum of Economic or Practical Geology, and the School of Mines. His principal works are &lsquo;Geology of Jamaica&rsquo;; &lsquo;Classification of European Rocks&rsquo;; &lsquo;Geological Manual&rsquo;; &lsquo;Researches in Theoretical Geology&rsquo;; &lsquo;Geology of Cornwall, Devon, and West Somerset,&rsquo; etc.