conductor of the English opera at Drury
Lane, then under Bunn's management, where
he produced his three first English operas,
'The Gypy's Warning,' (1838), 'The Bide of Venice' (1843), 'The Crusaders' (1846).
In 1848 he conducted a performance of
'Elijah' at Exeter Uall, in which Jenny
Lind made her first appearance in oratorio,
and in 1850 he accompanied that great singer
on her American tour. Benedict returned
to England in 1852, and soon after became
conductor of the Italian opera, in which
capacity he wrote recitatives for Weber's
'Oberon,' on its production (1860) at Her
Majesty's Theatre, in an Italian version. In
the same year his cantata 'Undine' was produced at the Norwich festival, of which he
was for many years conductor. The year
1862 saw the production of his best-known
opera, 'The Lily of Killarney,' which was
written for the Pyne and Harrison opera
company, the libretto being founded on Dion
Boscicault*s 'Colleen Bawn,' then at the
height of its popularity. His last opera, a
short work entitled 'The Bride of Song,' was
performed in 1864. For the Norwich festival,
on his connection with which has been
already mentioned, Benedict composed 'Ricard Cœur de Lion' (1863) and 'St. Cecilia' (1866). For the Birmingham festivals he
wrote 'St. Peter' (1870) and 'Graziella'
(1873). He also produced two symphonies,
which were played at the Crystal ralace concerts.
a pianoforte concerto, and several concert overtures, besides many smaller works.
In 1871 Benedict, who had become a naturalised Englishman, received the honour of
knighthood, and in 1874 he was made a
knight commander of the order of Franz
Josef by the Emperor of Austria, and of
the order of Frederick by the King of Würtemberg.
He was twice married. His
first wife was Mlle. Jean, and his second
Miss Mary Comber Fortey. On 18 March
1885 Benedict caught a severe cold at Manchester, which brought on an attack of bronchitis, aggravated by heart disease. He
recovered from this sufficiently to resume
teaching, but a sudden relapse ended in his
death, which took place at his residence,
2 Manchester Square, at eight o'clock on the
morning of 6 June 1885. He was buried at
Kensal Green on 11 June following.
[London newspapers of 6 and 13 June 1885; Grove's Dict. of Musicians, i. 222 b.]
BENEFACTA, RICHARD. [See Fitzgilbert, Richard.]
BENEFIELD, SEBASTIAN, D.D. (1559–1630), divine, was a native of Prestbury (or Prestonbury), Gloucestershire, where he was born on 12 Aug. 1559. Of his school education nothing has been transmitted, but he proceeded to the university while still very young, having been admitted scholar of Corpus Christi, Oxford, on 30 Aug. 1586. He is found probationer-fellow of the same college 16 April 1590. Shortly afterwards he took his degrees of B.A. and M.A., and, obtaining license with holy orders, soon came to be known as a frequent and eloquent preacher. In 1599 he was appointed rhetoric reader of his college, and m 1600 was admitted as reader of the sentences. In 1608 he proceeded D.D. In 1613 he was chosen Margaret professor of divinity in the university. He confirmed his early repute as a scholar by publishing 'Doctrinae Christianae sex Capita totidem Praelectionibus in Schola Theologica Oxoniensi pro forma habitis discussa et disceptata,' 1610. An appendix entitled 'Appendix ad Caput secundum de Consiliis Evangelicis . . . adversus Humphredum Leach,' annihilates his antagonist. As examples of his force of reasoning in the pulpit, there remain 'Eight Sermons publicly preached in the University of Oxford, the second at St. Peter's in-the-East, the rest at St. Mary's church. Began 14 Dec. 1595,' 1614. By the latter date, in Anthony à Wood's quaint words, he had resigned his professorship and 'receded to the rectory of Meysey-Hampton, near to Fairford, in Glostershire, which he had long before obtained by his predecessor's guilt of simony' (Athenae Oxon.. ed. Bliss, ii. 487-9). The first-fruits of his welcome leisure at Meysey-Hampton was a treatise, 'The Sin against the Holy Ghost discovered, and other Christian Doctrines delivered in Twelve Sermons upon part of the Tenth Chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews,' 1615. His most scholarly work, issued in three successive quartos, is his commentary on the minor prophet Amos (1613, 1620, 1629). It is somewhat scholastic and dry, but suggestive and practical. The commentary was translated into Latin by Henry Jackson (Oppenheim, 1615), who ultimately succeeded him at Meysey-Hampton. Benefield is Calvinistical in his 'Praelectiones de Perseverantia Sanctorum' (Frankfort, 1618). He also published other 'Occasional Sermons.' Anthony à Wood says that he spent 'the remanent part of his years' (about four years) 'in great retiredness and devotion.' He was 'a person,' he continues, 'for piety, strictness of life, and sincere consecration, incomparable ... he was also so noted an humanitarian, disputant, and theologist, and so well read in the fathers and schoolmen, that he had scarce his equal in the university.' Wood
