Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/255

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tee, and as such effected great reductions in the expenses of the house. On two occasions he declined important appointments under government, and after the death of Sir George E. Cartier refused a seat in the cabinet, principally on account of the Pacific railway changes then pending.


BELLINGHAM, Richard, colonial governor of Massachusetts, b. in England in 1592; d. 7 Dec, 1672. Pie was a lawyer, and one of the original patentees of the colony. He came to Boston in 1634, was one of a committee of seven to divide the town-lands, and in 1635 made deputy-governor. In 1641 he was elected governor, in opposition to Winthrop, by a majority of only six votes. He was chosen again in 1654, and again in May, 1665, after the death of Gov. Endicott, continuing in office for the remainder of his life. He served altogether thirteen years as deputy-governor and ten years as governor. In 1664 he was chosen major-general, and in the same year the four commissioners sent by Charles II. to inquire into the state of the colony ordered him, with others who were obnoxious to the duke of York, to go to England and account for his conduct. By authority of the general court, however, he refused compliance with this command, and the king was pacified by the present of a ship-load of masts. After the death of his wife, in 1641, Bellingham married again, performing the ceremony himself. For this reason, and because the banns were not properly published, he was prosecuted for violating, the law, but escaped by refusing to leave the bench, and thus officiating at his own trial. At the time of his death he was the only surviving patentee of the colony. His will provided that, after the decease of his wife, of his son by a former wife, and of his granddaughter, the bulk of his property should be spent for the maintenance "of godly ministers and preachers" attached to the principles of Congregationalism; but this will was set aside by the general court as interfering with the rights of his family. Bellingham was very obstinate, but a man of integrity, and, although continually in conflict with his fellow-officials, they respected his motives. He was opposed to innovations in religion, and especially severe toward the Quakers, At times he suffered from aberration of mind. His sister, widow of William Hibbens, an assistant, was executed as a witch in June, 1656.


BELLMARE, Raphael, Canadian author, b. in Yaraachiche, Quebec, 22 Feb., 1821. He was educated at the college of Nicolet, in which institution he was professor of belles-lettres in 1845-'7. After leaving college he edited "La Minerve" newspaper from 1847 till 1855, and, while acting in this capacity, ably supported the cause of religious instruction in the schools, in opposition to those who desired their secularization. At the confederation of the provinces he was appointed inspector of inland revenue, district of Montreal. Mr. Bellmare assisted in organizing the Canadian zouaves, which corps distinguished itself in the papal service during the troubles in Italy. He is a corresponding member of la societe des antiquaires de Normandie, is one of the founders of the societe historique de Montreal, is an indefatigable worker in the field of historical research, and possesses a valuable collection of rare books.


BELLO, Andres (bayl'-yo), Spanish-American poet, b. in Caracas, Venezuela, 30 Nov., 1781; d. in October, 1865. When the Venezuelian revolution began in 1810 Bello was an official in the service of the Spanish captain-general; but he soon joined the revolutionary party and went to England with Bolivar and Lopez Mendez to negotiate for British co-operation. Bello remained in London, married an English lady, and lived there for nineteen years. Atiev returning to South America, he established himself in Santiago, Chili, where he filled many high offices, among them that of rector of the university during the rest of his life. His works include "Teoria del Entendimiento," "Principios de Derecho internacional," and a famous Spanish grannnar. The poem entitled "La Agricultura de la Zona Torrida" is one of his best.


BELLOMONT, or BELLAMONT, Richard Coote, earl of, colonial governor of New York and Massachusetts, b. in 1636 ; d. in New York, 5 March, 1701. His father was raised to the Irish peerage, as Baron Coote, for services at the restoration of Charles II. Richard, the eldest son, was a member of parliament in 1688, and one of the first adherents of the prince of Orange. In 1689 he was attainted by the parliament held by James II. in Dublin, but in the same year made earl of Bellomont by William III., and appointed treasurer and receiver-general to Queen Mary. He was appointed governor of New York in May, 1695, and, shortly afterward, of Massachusetts. Piracy and unlawful trade had been on the increase, and New York was "remarkably infected with those two dangerous diseases," so that a man of strong will and great honesty was required for the place. In notifying Bellomont of his appointment, the king said that "he thought him a man of resolution and integrity, and with those qualifications more likely than any other he could think of to put a stop to that illegal trade and to the growth of piracy; for which reason he made choice of him for that government, and for the same reason intended to put the government of New England into his hands." The new governor did not reach this country until May, 1698. Party disputes detained him for a year in the province of New York, after which he went to Boston, where he arrived on 26 May, 1699, and was received with great enthusiasm. As Bellomont had been specially appointed to suppress piracy, and as none of the king's ships could then be placed at his disposal, the governor, before leaving England, had determined to accomplish the matter by private enterprise, and, with the king's sanction, formed a company and sent out a sloop under the command of William Kidd, an adventurer. Bellomont had not been long in this country when the news came that Kidd had himself turned pirate, and the governor was even accused of complicity with him. Kidd was finally captured, sent to England for trial, and executed there in 1701. Soon after the May session of the general court in 1700, Bellomont returned to New York, where he attacked the illegal traders with such vigor that a petition against him was sent to England. The annoyance thus caused hastened his death. He was buried at the Battery, and now lies in St. Paul's church-yard, New York. Macaulay says he was a man "of eminently fair character, upright, courageous, and independent." Though his fearless course in New York made him enemies there, in Massachusetts he was very popular. His stay there lasted but fourteen months, yet he was granted a larger sum than had been given to any previous governor, receiving altogether £1,875. He seems to have done all in his power to ingratiate himself with the people of Boston. Though a churchman, he attended the weekly lecture regularly with the general court, and professed great regard for the preachers, and, on this account, he has been charged by Hutchinson with hypocrisy. See "The Life and Administration of Richard, Earl of Bellomont," by Frederio De Peyster (New York, 1879).