United States, and against his wishes and counsel he has been nominated for political office by the greenback, the democratic, the prohibition, and the republican parties, but has never been elected to any office. He was chosen chaplain of the 141st New York volunteers in 1863, and served with the army of the Potomac four months. He has pronounced mechanical and scientific tastes, and is a lover of art as well as a keen critic. He made a tour of England and France in 1853, visited South America in 1864-'5, England again in 1873, and California in 1884. He has published in book form, “Our Seven Churches” (New York, 1870), a series of lectures, one of which has been widely circulated as a tract, with the title “A Well-Considered Estimate of the Episcopal Church.” The other prints but rarely published are sermons and lectures for the use of the Park Church Bible School. — Another son, James Chaplin, clergyman, b. in Boston, Mass., 8 Jan., 1828; d. in Elmira, N. Y., 25 Aug., 1886, was graduated at Dartmouth in 1848, studied theology at Andover, and on 10 May, 1856, was ordained a Congregational clergyman. Until 1861 he was chaplain of the Seamen's Bethel in Canton and Hong Kong, China. During the civil war he was chaplain of the 1st New York infantry (1861-'2); lieutenant-colonel of the 141st (1862-'3); colonel of the 35th U. S. colored troops (1863-'6), and was mustered out of service in 1866 as brevet brigadier-general. Later, he held pastorates in Owego, N. Y. (1867-'70); Poughkeepsie (1871-'3); and Brooklyn (1881-'2). After three years of acute suffering because of incurable hallucinations, the shadows of which had been hovering about him since 1864, he died by his own hand at the Water Cure in Elmira. — Charles's son, Frederick Henry, soldier, b. in New Orleans, La., 22 June, 1841; d. on the upper Republican river, Kansas, 17 Sept., 1868. He was graduated at Bowdoin in 1862, immediately entered the military service, and became successively sergeant, second and first lieutenant. He was in the battles of the army of the Potomac from Fredericksburg to Gettysburg; was twice severely wounded, but could not be persuaded to remain away from his command. The severe nature of his wounds necessitated his transfer to the 2d battalion veteran reserve corps, where he served as lieutenant and acted as adjutant-general under Gen. E. Whittlesey of the Freedmen's Bureau, until commissioned in the regular army in 1864. He was transferred to the 3d U. S. infantry in November, 1864, and made first lieutenant in July, 1866. He served with distinction on the western borders, and was killed by the Indians while on a scouting party some distance from Fort Wallace.
BEECHEY, Frederick William, English
geographer, b. in London, 17 Feb., 1706; d. there,
29 Nov., 1856. He was the son of Sir William
Beechey, the artist. Entering the navy in 1806,
he saw some service in the Channel, on the coast
of Portugal, and in the East Indies, and in 1814 was
appointed to the "Tonnant," Sir Alexander Cochrane's flag-ship. He took part in the battle of
New Orleans, 8 Jan., 1815, and on 10 March was
made a lieutenant for his services on that occasion. On 14 Jan., 1818, he was appointed to the "Trent," commanded by Lieut, (afterward Sir John) Franklin, and acted as artist to the Arctic expedition of that year, which he afterward described in his "Vovage of Discovery toward the
North Pole" (London. 1843). Beechey was employed on the survev of the north coast of Africa in 1821-2, and published in connection with his
brother, Henry W. Beechey, "Proceedings of the Expedition to explore the Northern Coast of Africa" (London, 1828). He was made commander on 25 Jan., 1822, in January, 1825, was assigned to the "Blossom," and for four years was engaged in the Pacific and in attempting to co-operate with the polar expeditions from the east.
In August, 1826, he went, in boats, as far as lat.
71° 23' 31" N., long. 156° 21' 30" W., a point only
146 miles from Franklin's extreme northern point
reached about the same time; but as neither explorer knew of the other's position, the opportunity to cooperate was lost. In 1827 he was made
post-captain, and discovered the harbors of Port
Clarence and Grantley, near Bering strait. A
narrative of his voyages in the years 1825-'8 was
published by him (London, 1831). From 1835 till
1847 he was chiefly engaged in surveys on the coast
of South America and Ireland, and after this he
lived in London until his death. In 1854 he became rear-admiral of the blue. In 1855 he was elected president of the geographical society,
BEEKMAN, Gerardus, colonial governor of
New York, d. in New York city about 1728. He
was a physician and a wealthy land-holder in New
York city, a major under Jacob Leisler, and a
member of his council at the time of the revolution
of 1688. After the arrival of Gov. Sloughter, when
Leisler was condemned and executed for treasonable conduct in refusing to give up the fort at New
York, Beekman was one of eight that were condemned with him, but recommended to the governor's mercy. He wrote several petitions for release both to the governor and the queen, saying
in one of them that he wished to visit some patients
on Long Island who were "very dangerous." He
was at length set at liberty, and in 1700 became lieutenant-colonel of a militia regiment under Gov. Bellomont. He was a commissioner in the case of the claim of the Mohecan Indians to land in Connecticut, and afterward a member of Gov. Cornbury's council. After the removal of Gov. Ingoldsby, Beekman was president of the council,
and acting governor until the arrival of Gov. Hunter, from 10 April till 14 June, 1710. While holding this place he granted, on his own responsibility,
permission to the Rev. Mr. Freeman to officiate in
the churches of "Flatbush and Brookland," jointly
with the pastor. Rev. Vincentius Antonides. The
latter, and most of his flock, objected, and, as Gov.
Beekman refused to withdraw the obnoxious permission, the council broke up. Soon after, Beekman had a quarrel on this same subject with one
Squire Filkins, who, in a letter dated June, 1710,
says that as they were drinking wine together in
the ferry-house, having just crossed the ferry, Beekman "gave me affronting words, calling me pittifull fellow, dog, rogue, rascal, &c., which caused
me, being overcome with passion, to tell him that I had a good mind to knock him off his horse," Beekman was afterward a member of Hunter's
council, holding that office till his death.
BEEKMAN, James William, b. in New York city, 22 Nov., 1815 ; d. there, 15 June, 1877. He was descended from William Beekman, who sailed with Peter Stuyvesant to New Netherlands, and was an officer of the West India company, and afterward an alderman, under English rule. After studying under a private tutor, Mr. Beekman was graduated at Columbia college in 1834, and studied law with John L. Mason, but never became a member of the bar. His father's death in 1833 left him a fortune, and the death of his uncle, James Beekman, added to this the family estate on the East river near Fifty-second street, including the old Beekman mansion, a place of his-
