Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Beville, Robert

1306953Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 04 — Beville, Robert1885James McMullen Rigg

BEVILLE, ROBERT (d. 1824), barrister-at-law. was called to the bar at the Inner Temple between 1795 and 1799, and practised on the Norfolk circuit and at the Ely assizes, as well as in London and Middlesex, until 1807, when he seems to have given up practice, as his name does not appear in the 'Law List' after that year until 1816 when he is described as of the Fen Office, 3 Tanfield Court, Temple. He had obtained in 1812 the post of registrar to the Bedford Level Corporation, which he held until his death in 1824. In 1813 a new edition of Dugdale's 'History of Imbanking and Drayning of divers Fens and Marshes' was announced in the 'Gentleman's Magazine' as in preparation by him. It did not, however, appear. Beville married in 1800 Miss Sauter, described as of Chancery Lane. His son Charles survived him. Beville was the author of a small treatise 'On the Law of Homicide and Larceny,' published in 1799, and terribly lacerated the same year by the 'London Monthly Review.' He does not appear to have written anything else.

[Gent. Mag. lxxi. 181, lxxxiii. (pt. ii.) 448, lxxxviii. (pt. 1.) 323; Wells's Bedford Level, i. 555, 658; Brit. Mus. Cat.]

J. M. R.