|
Beauchamp, Pierre
|
(1636-1705)
|
French
|
Dancer, choreographer, and director of the Academie Royale de Danse in France. He helped develop classical ballet (with an early notation system), and thus represented a marriage of intense physical discipline with music and the joy of movement.
|
1
|
|
Beaumarchais, Pierre
|
(1732-1799)
|
French
|
Dramatist. He was a master of satire and farce, and his plays The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro were adapted for opera by Rossini and Mozart respectively.
|
1
|
|
Beaverbrook, Max
|
(1879-1964)
|
Canadian
|
Newspaper owner and public figure. He began in his native Canada by acquiring newspapers, then moved to Britain, where he became the owner of the Daily Express (the largest circulation newspaper), a member of parliament, and a member of the government during World War I and World War II. He loved being rich, but political influence and power meant even more to him, and he especially loved behind the scenes political maneuvering and intrigue.
At a crucial moment in World War I, he successfully schemed to bring in the Lloyd George government, and was regarded as a potent kingmaker thereafter. In World War II, he held a variety of positions under his friend Winston Churchill, but is best remembered for throwing his prodigious force of personality into aircraft production. Often selfish, roguish, or impish, but always brilliant and sometimes indispensable, he was a short and physically unprepossessing man from humble origins who reached the pinnacle of wealth, power, and social position, through sheer irrepressibility of energy, verve, and ambition.
|
1
|
|
Beccaria, Cesare
|
(1738-1794)
|
Italian
|
Thinker. His well reasoned opposition to torture and capital punishment made people think. In addition, he pointed out that better childhood conditions and education could reduce crime.
|
1
|
|
Beck, Aaron
|
(1921- )
|
American
|
Psychologist. Albert Ellis's rational/emotive therapy and Aaron Beck's cognitive therapy are two of the earliest forms of cognitive therapy, one of the more dominant forms of emotional therapy today. The core idea is that our emotions and cognitions (thoughts) are so closely connected that changing our thoughts, internal dialogues, and actions will help change our emotions.
Although negative thoughts are themselves hard to change, they are more accessible than emotions, and close consideration of them will usually reveal that they are unfactual (non-empirical), illogical, or both. Once this is perceived, the patient must learn to talk back to him or herself. Cognitive therapy thus emphasizes the value of empiricism and logic, and suggests that we should rely on these modes of thinking to guide our lives.
Unlike Ellis's form of cognitive therapy, Beck's is non-directive, seeks to help the patient come to sound conclusions without labeling, pushing, or especially bossing.
|
2
|
|
Becker, Carl
|
(1873-1945)
|
American
|
Historian. His The Heavenly of the Eighteenth Century Philosophers expressed but also over-simplified the doctrines of the 18th century Enlightenment. (See Diderot, d' Alembert etc.)
|
1
|
|
Becker, Gary
|
(1930- )
|
American
|
Economist. He brought economic analysis more down to earth and gave it a more human face by treating such topics as family relations. He also helped coin the term "human capital" to remind economists that there are critical capital resources beyond the more easily measured buildings and equipment.
|
1
|
|
Becket, St. Thomas a
|
(1118-1170)
|
English
|
Priest, Saint. Legend tells us that he was a friend and loyal servant of King Henry II of England. After appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury, however, he became a zealous defender of the rights and prerogatives of the Church. Henry muttered: "Who will rid me of this turbulent priest?" Four of his knights rode off to murder the Archbishop at the alter of Canterbury Cathedral, and Henry penitentially flogged himself at the tomb of his former friend.
|
2
|
|
Beckett, Samuel
|
(1906-1989)
|
Irish
|
Dramatist. His plays expressed the power of nameless and sourceless emotions (perhaps with an emphasis on anxiety), the power of silence (especially in a stage setting), and the general absurdity of life. An Irishman who chose to live in France, he wrote in both English and French, but his most famous works, including Waiting for Godot, were written in his adopted tongue. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1969.
|
1
|
|
Beckford, William
|
(1760-1844)
|
English
|
Author. In his writing (e.g. the novel Vathek), in art collecting, and in building (e.g. his home in Font Hill Abbey), he represented the renewed interest in things Medieval that found expression in the 19th century Gothic Revival.
|
1
|
|
Bede, St.
|
(c.673-735)
|
English
|
Priest, monk, author, and saint. He wrote in Latin on a multitude of subjects including sermons, saints' lives, Biblical commentaries, hymns, language, and natural history. His best-known work was The Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum (Ecclesiastical History of the English People), which covers more than church history and is an invaluable source.
|
1
|
|
Beebe, William
|
(1877-1962)
|
American
|
Naturalist and explorer. He devoted his life to the study of birds, natural history, and exploration, including undersea marine exploration, wrote books for the public as well as for other scientists, and was for many years associated with the New York Zoological Society.
|
1
|
|
Beecher, Catharine
|
(1800-1878)
|
American
|
|
1
|
|
Beecher, Henry
|
(1813-1887)
|
American
|
Preacher. He denounced alcohol and especially slavery.
|
1
|
|
Beerbohm Sir Max
|
(1872-1956)
|
English
|
|
1
|
|
Beethoven, Ludwig van
|
(1770-1827)
|
German
|
Composer and social thinker.
|
1
|
|
Begin, Menachem
|
(1913-1992)
|
Israeli
|
A former terrorist, he became Israeli prime minister and made peace with Egypt.
|
1
|
|
Behan, Brendan
|
(1923-1964)
|
Irish
|
Novelist and playwright. He supported the Irish Republican Army (IRA) against the British.
|
1
|
|
Behan, Dominic
|
(1928-1989)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Behn, Aphra
|
(1640-1689)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Behrman, S.N.
|
(1893-1973)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Beilstein, Friedrich
|
(1838-1906)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Bekesy, Georg von
|
(1899-1972)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Bekhterev, Vladimir
|
(1857-1927)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Bel Geddes, Norman
|
(1893-1958)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Belasco, David
|
(1853-1931)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Bell, Alexander Graham
|
(1847-1922)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Bell, Alexander Melville
|
(1819-1905)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Bell, George
|
(1883-1958)
|
English
|
|
1
|
|
Bell, Gertrude
|
(1868-1926)
|
English
|
Archaeologist, student of the Middle East. She traveled and excavated in Iraq, wrote books, became head of Antiquities, and eventually came to symbolize the mysteries of the ancient and modern Levant.
|
1
|
|
Bell, Lawrence
|
(1894-1956)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Bell, Patrick
|
(1799-1869)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Bell, Vanessa
|
(1879-1961)
|
English
|
Painter. She was a noted "Bloomsbury" bohemian.
|
1
|
|
Bellamy, David
|
(1933- )
|
|
|
1
|
|
Bellamy, Edward
|
(1850-1898)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Bellarmine, St. Robert
|
(1542-1621)
|
Italian
|
|
1
|
|
Bellay Joachim du
|
(1522-1560)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Belleau, Remy
|
(1528-1577)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Bellini, Vincenzo
|
(1801-1835)
|
Italian
|
Operatic composer. He was a master of bel canto melodramas.
|
1
|
|
Belloc, Hilaire
|
(1870-1953)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Belmont, Alva
|
(1853-1933)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Ben Bella, Ahmed
|
(1918- )
|
Algerian
|
Prime minister and president. A romantic revolutionary, he found success to be disillusioning.
|
1
|
|
Benchley, Robert
|
(1889-1945)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Beneden, Eduard van
|
(1846-1910)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Benedict of Nursia, St.
|
(c480-c.547)
|
Italian
|
|
2
|
|
Benedict, Ruth
|
(1887-1948)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Ben-Gurion, David
|
(1886-1973)
|
Israeli
|
First prime minister of Israel. He helped realize Zionist dreams.
|
1
|
|
Benjamin of Tudela
|
(?-1173)
|
Spanish
|
Traveling rabbi. He was the first to reach Far East.
|
1
|
|
Benjamin, Judah
|
(1811-1884)
|
American
|
Attorney General for the Confederacy. He escaped to England after the end of the U.S. Civil War.
|
1
|
|
Bennett, James
|
(1841-1918)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Bennett, Michael
|
(1943-1987)
|
American
|
Choreographer, director, producer. He interpreted American life.
Choreographer. In his 1975 production, A Chorus Line, young dancers reveal their lives and hopes.
|
1
|
|
Bennett, William
|
(1943- )
|
|
|
1
|
|
Benny, Jack
|
(1894-1974)
|
American
|
Comedian. He provided a self-mocking, satiric example of stinginess and selfishness.
|
1
|
|
Benson, Sir Frank
|
(1858-1939)
|
English
|
Actor. He helped preserve Shakespeare.
|
1
|
|
Bentham, George
|
(1800-84)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Bentham, Jeremy
|
(1748-1832)
|
|
|
3
|
|
Bentinck, Lord George
|
(1802-1848)
|
English
|
Politician. He opposed free trade.
|
1
|
|
Benton, Thomas
|
(1782-1858)
|
American
|
Senator. He firmly opposed paper money.
|
1
|
|
Benz, Karl
|
(1844-1929)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Benzer, Seymour
|
(1921- )
|
|
|
1
|
|
Ben-Zvi, Itzhak
|
(1884-1963)
|
Israeli
|
President. He helped found the State of Israel, the Israeli Labor Party, and served as president.
|
1
|
|
Berceo, Gonzalo de
|
(c.1180-c.1246)
|
Spanish
|
Poet. He wrote poetry on religious themes.
|
1
|
|
Berchet, Giovanni
|
(1783-1851)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Berdyayev, Nikolai
|
(1874-1948)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Berenson, Bernard
|
(1865-1959)
|
Lithuanian
|
Critic. He became rich by confirming the authenticity of old master paintings for rich art collectors, and his honesty was sometimes questioned. Living a baronial lifestyle near Florence, Italy, he loved good food, wine, trips, conversation, gossip, and especially sexual gossip.
|
1
|
|
Berg, Paul
|
(1926- )
|
|
|
1
|
|
Berggrav, Eivind
|
(1884-1959)
|
Norwegian
|
|
1
|
|
Bergman, Ingmar
|
(1918- )
|
Swedish
|
Film director, writer. He was a master of dark emotions.
|
1
|
|
Bergson, Henri
|
(1859-1941)
|
|
|
2
|
|
Beria, Lavrenti
|
(1899-1953)
|
Russian
|
Head of Soviet secret police under Stalin.
|
1
|
|
Berigan, Bunny
|
(1908-1942)
|
American
|
Band leader. He is associated with swing and 1930's American "high society."
|
1
|
|
Berkeley, Busby
|
(1895-1976)
|
American
|
Choreographer. He arranged fanciful and breathtaking spectacles featuring masses of female dancers, merging and re-merging in perfectly choreographed chorus lines.
|
1
|
|
Berkeley, George
|
(1685-1753)
|
|
|
2
|
|
Berkowitz, David
|
(c.1953- )
|
American
|
Murderer.
|
1
|
|
Berlin, Irving
|
(1888-1989)
|
American
|
Composer, songwriter. He interpreted American life and became hugely popular.
|
1
|
|
Berlin, Sir Isaiah
|
(1909-1997)
|
Russian
|
Oxford scholar. He specialized in the history of ideas, especially the development of liberal values (in the root sense of valuing liberty) and their opposite, totalitarian values. He also had a genius for friendship, enjoyed good conversation, food, and wine, and enjoyed a very wide circle of acquaintance, including political as well as social and intellectual figures.
|
2
|
|
Berlinguer, Enrico
|
(1922-1984)
|
Italian
|
Politician. He tried to create a democratic communism.
|
1
|
|
Berlitz, Charles
|
(1914- )
|
|
|
1
|
|
Bernadette of Lourdes, St.
|
(1844-1879)
|
French
|
|
1
|
|
Bernadotte, Folke
|
(18951948)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Bernard of Clairvaux, St.
|
(1090-1153)
|
French
|
|
2
|
|
Bernard of Menthon, St.
|
(923-1008)
|
Italian
|
Priest. He sheltered travelers in the Alps. St. Bernard dogs bear his name.
|
2
|
|
Bernard of Morval
|
12th-c.
|
French
|
Priest. He lived at the famous monastery of Cluny and wrote De Contemptu Murdi, or The Contempt of the World, a poem that was later adapted for hymns.
|
3
|
|
Bernardino of Siena, St.
|
(1380-1444)
|
Italian
|
|
1
|
|
Bernays, Edward
|
(1891-1895)
|
Austrian-American
|
Businessman. He founded the public relations industry.
|
1
|
|
Berni , Francesco
|
(c.1497-1535)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Bernini, Gian
|
(1598-1680)
|
Italian
|
Sculptor, architect. He became an exemplar of baroque theatricality.
|
1
|
|
Bernoulli, Daniel
|
(1700-1782)
|
Swiss (although born in Holland)
|
Mathematician. He was a remarkable pioneer in the fields of probability, risk assessment, and human valuation.
|
2
|
|
Bernoulli, Jakob
|
(1655-1705)
|
Swiss
|
|
3
|
|
Bernoulli, Johann
|
(1667-1748) Mathematician
|
|
|
3
|
|
Bernstein, Carl
|
(1944- )
|
|
|
1
|
|
Bernstein, Eduard
|
(1850-1932)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Berra, Yogi
|
(1925- ]
|
|
|
1
|
|
Berrigan, Daniel
|
(1921- )
|
American
|
Catholic priest. His view of religion led him into illegal activity against the Vietnam War, and he was jailed.
|
2
|
|
Berrigan, Philip
|
(1923-)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Berry, Chuck
|
(1926- )
|
American
|
Rock and roll singer and songwriter.
|
1
|
|
Berthelot, Sabin
|
(1794-1880)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Berthollet, Claude
|
(1748-1822)
|
|
|
1
|
|
Besant, Annie
|
(1847-1933)
|
English
|
Mystic. She followed Madame Blavatsky into theosophy, also studied Hindu, philosophy, and supported women's rights and socialism.
|
2
|
|
Besant, Sir Walter
|
(1836-1902)
|
English
|
Novelist. He wanted the government to take a more direct hand in helping the poor.
|
1
|
|
Bessemer, Sir Henry
|
(1813-98)
|
|
|
1
|
|