Bert (Paul), French scientist and statesman, b. at Auxerre, 17 Oct. 1833. In Paris he studied both law and medicine, and after being Professor in the Faculty of Science at Bordeaux, he in 1869 obtained the chair of physiology in the Faculty of Science at Paris, and distinguished himself by his scientific experiments. In ’70 he offered his services to the Government of National Defence, and in ’72 was elected to the National Assembly, where he signalised himself by his Radical opinions. Gambetta recognised his worth and made him Minister of Public Instruction, in which capacity he organised French education on a Secular basis. His First Year of Scientific Instruction is almost universally used in the French primary schools. It has been translated into English by Josephine Clayton (Madame Paul Bert). His strong anti-clerical views induced much opposition. He published several scientific and educational works and attacked The Morality of the Jesuits, ’80. In ’86 he was appointed French Resident Minister at Tonquin, where he died 11 Nov. ’86. His body was brought over to France and given a State funeral, a pension being also accorded to his widow.
Bertani (Agostino), Italian patriot, b. 19 Oct. 1812, became a physician at Genoa, took part with Garibaldi and Mazzini, organising the ambulance services. A declared Freethinker, he was elected deputy to the Italian Parliament. Died Rome 30 April, ’86.
Berti (Antonio), Italian physician, b. Venice 20 June, 1816. Author of many scientific works, member of the Venice Municipal Council and of the Italian Senate. Died Venice 24 March, 1879.
Bertillon (Louis Adolphe), French Anthropologist and physician, b. Paris 1 April, 1821. His principal work is a statistical study of the French population, Paris ’74. He edits in conjunction with A. Hovelacque and others, the Dictionary of the Anthropological Sciences (’83 etc.) His sons, Jacques (b. ’51) and Alphonse (b. ’53), prosecute similar studies.
Bertrand de Saint-Germain (Guillaume Scipion), French physician, b. Puy-en-Velay 25 Oct. 1810. Became M.D. 1840, wrote on The Original Diversity of Human Races (1847), and a materialistic work on Manifestation of Life and Intelligence through Organisation, 1848. Has also written on Descartes as a Physiologist, 1869.
Berwick (George J.) M.D., appointed surgeon to the East India Company in 1828, retired in ’52. Author of Awas-i-hind, or a Voice from the Ganges; being a solution of the true source of Christianity. By an Indian Officer; London, 1861. Also of a work on The Forces of the Universe, ’70. Died about 1872.
Besant (Annie) née Wood. B. London, 1 Oct. 1847. Educated in Evangelicalism by Miss Marryat, sister of novelist, but turned to the High Church by reading Pusey and others. In “Holy Week” of 1866 she resolved to write the story of the week from the gospel. Their contradictions startled her but she regarded her doubts as sin. In Dec. ’67 she married the Rev. F. Besant, and read and wrote extensively. The torment a child underwent in whooping-cough caused doubts as to the goodness of God. A study of Greg’s Creed of Christendom and Arnold’s Literature and Dogma increased her scepticism. She became acquainted with the Rev. C. Voysey and Thomas Scott, for whom she wrote an Essay on the Deity of Jesus of Nazareth, “by the wife of a beneficed clergyman.” This led to her husband insisting on her taking communion or leaving. She chose the latter course, taking by agreement her daughter with her. Thrown on her own resources, she wrote further tracts for Mr. Scott, reprinted in My Path to Atheism (’77). Joined the National Secular Society, and in ’74 wrote in the National Reformer over the signature of “Ajax.” Next year she took to the platform and being naturally eloquent soon won her way to the front rank as a Freethought lecturess, and became joint editor of the National Reformer. Some lectures on the French Revolution were republished in book form. In April, ’77, she was arrested with Mr. Bradlaugh for publishing the Fruits of Philosophy. After a brilliant defence, the jury exonerated the defendants from any corrupt motives, and although they were sentenced the indictment was quashed in Feb. ’78, and the case was not renewed. In May, ’78, a petition in Chancery was presented to deprive Mrs. Besant of her child on the ground of her Atheistic and Malthusian views. Sir G. Jessell granted the petition. In ’80 Mrs. Besant matriculated at the London University and took 1st B.Sc. with honors in ’82. She has debated much and issued many pamphlets to be found in Theological Essays and Debates. She wrote the second part of the Freethinkers’ Text Book dealing with Christian evidence; has written on the Sins of the Church, 1886, and the Evolution of Society. She has translated Jules Soury’s Religion of Israel, and Jesus of the Gospels; Dr. L. Büchner on the Influence of Heredity and Mind in Animals, and from the fifteenth edition of Force and Matter. From ’83 to ’88 she edited Our Corner, and since ’85 has given much time to Socialist propaganda, and has written many Socialist pamphlets. In Dec. ’88, Mrs. Besant was elected a member of the London School Board.
Beverland (Hadrianus), Dutch classical scholar and nephew of Isaac Vossius, b. Middleburg 1654. He took the degree of doctor of law and became an advocate, but devoted himself to literature. He was at the university of Oxford in 1672. His treatise on Original Sin, Peccatum Originale (Eleutheropoli, 1678), in which he contends that the sin of Adam and Eve was sexual inclination, caused a great outcry. It was burnt, Beverland was imprisoned and his name struck from the rolls of Leyden University. He wrote some other curious works and died about 1712.
Bevington (Louisa S.), afterwards Guggenberger; English poetess and authoress of Key Notes, 1879; Poems, Lyrics and Sonnets, ’82; wrote “Modern Atheism and Mr. Mallock” in the Nineteenth Century (Oct. and Dec. ’79), and on “The Moral Demerits of Orthodoxy” in Progress, Sept. ’84.
Beyle (Marie Henri), French man of letters, famous under the name of de Stendhal, b. Grenoble, 23 Jan. 1783. Painter, soldier, merchant and consul, he travelled largely, a wandering life being congenial to his broad and sceptical spirit. His book, De l’Amour is his most notable work. He was an original and gifted critic and romancer. Balzac esteemed him highly. He died at Paris, 23 March, 1842. Prosper Merimée has published his correspondence. One of his sayings was “Ce qui excuse Dieu, c’est qu’il n’existe pas”—God’s excuse is that he does not exist.