Bell-Smith, Frederic Marlett (1846- ). Born in London, England. Educated there, and came to Canada, 1866. Founder and first president of the Canadian Society of Artists, Montreal, 1867; director of Alma College 1881; member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, 1888; director of the Toronto Art School, 1889-1891. President of the Ontario Society of Artists. Bib.: Morgan, Can. Men; Canadian Who's Who.
Belleau, Sir Narcisse (1808-1894). Born in the city of Quebec and educated there. In 1852 a member of the Legislative Council, and in 1857-1862 Speaker. Mayor of Quebec, 1860, when King Edward VII, as Prince of Wales, visited Canada, and knighted on the occasion. In 1862 appointed minister of agriculture in the Cartier-Macdonald ministry; and in 1865 premier and receiver-general in a coalition government. Appointed lieutenant-governor of the province of Quebec, 1867; resigned in 1873. Index: B Succeeds Sir E. P. Taché as titular head of coalition government—proposed by J. A. Macdonald, and accepted by George Brown, 191; Macdonald the virtual leader of government, 191. C His connection with British North America Act, 102-103.. Md Nominal head of government, 1865, 123. Bib.: Rose, Cyc. Can. Biog.; Taylor, Brit. Am.; Dent, Last Forty Years.
Belleville. Town of Ontario on the Bay of Quinte. Founded by Captain Myers in 1790. Index: BL Early municipal government of, 298; riot over Rebellion Losses Bill, 318.
Bellomont, Richard Coote, Earl of (1636-1701). Member of Parliament, 1688-1695; and served in Ireland, 1689. In 1695 appointed governor of New York, and afterwards of Massachusetts. Index: F Corresponds with Frontenac, 355. Bib.: Dict. Nat. Biog.
Belmont, François Vachon de. Came to Canada from France in 1680, and joined the Seminary of St. Sulpice at Montreal, of which he was superior, 1698-1732. Died the latter year. Left a History of Canada, which was published in the first series of Historical Documents of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec. Index: F On number of captives taken at Lachine, 226; on excessive use of brandy, 312; and footnote. L His large donations to religious objects, 135; preaches funeral sermon on Laval at Montreal, 265.
Bénédiction. Ch English vessel seized by French, 221.
Bennett, George. B An employee of the Globe, 256; shoots George Brown, 257; on Brown's death, is tried and found guilty of murder, 258; his mind disordered by misfortunes and intemperance, 258.
Bentham, Jeremy (1748-1832). English writer on jurisprudence and ethics. Index: Sy An associate of Sydenham's, 13. Bib.: Works, ed. by Bowring and Burton, 1843. For biog., see Dict. Nat. Biog.
Bentivoglis. Papal Nuncio. Index: Ch Authorizes establishment of church in Canada, 84.
Bering, Vitus (1681-1741). Born at Horsens, Denmark. Joined the Russian navy in 1704; and in 1725 sent by Peter the Great to explore the waters east of Kamchatka, and examine the American coast. After a three-years' journey overland, reached the eastern coast of Siberia, built vessels there, and in 1728 followed the coast north to the Arctic, proving that Asia and America were not united. In 1733 set out again on the long overland journey, hampered with a huge retinue, and it was not until 1741 that his ships were ready at Petropaulovsk. Sailed to the east, reached and explored the American coast, and was wrecked on what was afterwards known as Bering Island, where he died, Dec. 8, 1741. Index: D His explorations, 39, 40; his death, 1741, 40. Bib.: Lauridsen, Vitus Bering; Muller, Voyages from Asia to America; Laut, Vikings of the Pacific.