Page:Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography Volume 1.pdf/414

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
BAR
380
BAR

29th of July, 1798. He was the author of numerous theological treatises, which he collected and published in three volumes. Barclay was a person of energetic character, fond of discussion, and possessed of strong controversial powers.—J. T.

BARCLAY, Robert, the son of Colonel David Barclay, was born at Gordonstown in Morayshire, 1648. He was early sent to Paris to be educated under his uncle's care, but his uncle being a zealous catholic, and likely to influence the mind of Robert towards Romanist doctrines, the father recalled him. It appears that the father became a Quaker in 1666, and therefore after the return of the youth, who was only sixteen when brought back. The son adopted Quakerism soon after the father, joined the society, and became very zealous in propagating as well as defending their sentiments in England and on the continent. In 1676 he visited Holland and Germany, where he became acquainted with Elizabeth, Princess Palatine, who continued a warm friend to him and his coreligionists ever after. In that same year he published his celebrated Apology, under the title "Theologiæ vere Christianæ Apologia," 4to, Amsterdam. It was translated into English by himself, and published in 1678. It has gone through many editions in 4to and 8vo, and was translated into most continental languages. Written with much ability, with clearness of reasoning and perspicuity of expression, it also shows great ingenuity in the advocacy of unpopular opinions. In 1677 he again visited Holland, in company with William Penn and George Fox; and in 1679 procured from Charles II. a charter erecting his paternal estate of Ury into a free barony, with civil and criminal jurisdiction to him and his heirs, which was afterwards ratified by act of parliament. The alterations, however, which were made during the reign of George II. in the government of Scotland, extinguished it. In 1679 he visited Holland a third time; and in 1682 was appointed governor of East Jersey in North America, with liberty of appointing a deputy. The province was never visited by himself. He spent the remainder of his life in retirement at the paternal residence of Ury, where he died, October 3, 1690, aged forty-two, leaving seven children. His Apology is the only one of his works that is much known; and that contains the best exposition of the doctrines and practices of the Quakers. It is regarded as the standard of that sect. Other publications are "Truth Cleared of Calumnies," Aberdeen, 1670. This was his first work. "A Catechism and Confession of Faith," 1675; "Theses Theologicæ," 1675, which were the foundation of the Apology; "Treatise on Universal Love," 1677; "Anarchy of the Ranters and other Libertines," 1676. A few other small tracts proceeded from his pen.—S. D.

BARCLAY, Thomas, a Scottish scholar of considerable celebrity, who was educated at Bourdeaux and Toulouse, and became the head of what was called the Squillanean. He was appointed regius professor of civil law at Poitiers, and afterwards taught the same science at Toulouse with great applause.

BARCLAY, William, a celebrated Scottish civilian, father of the author of the Argenis, was born in Aberdeenshire in 1541. His early years were spent at the court of Queen Mary; but on the dethronement and captivity of that unfortunate princess, he emigrated to France in 1573, and, with a number of his countrymen, studied civil law under the famous Cujacius, at Bourges. In 1578 the duke of Lorraine appointed him professor of civil law in the recently-established university of Pont à Mousson, through the recommendation of his uncle, Edmund Hay, the first rector of that seminary. He was also nominated by the duke, in 1582, a councillor of state and master of requests to his hospital. In 1600 he published, in Latin, a treatise "On the Royal Power, against Buchanan, Brutus, Boucher, and other King-killers," in which he argues, that the sovereign is supreme in temporal affairs, that the people are bound to yield implicit obedience to his orders, and that the laws owe their validity to his will. He admits, however, that subjects have a right to resist their sovereign in cases of extreme cruelty. Having quarrelled with the jesuits, in consequence of his refusal to allow his distinguished son, John, to become a member of their body, Barclay was obliged to resign his chair in 1603, and to seek refuge in England. His defence of despotic power recommended him to the favour of James I., who had just ascended the English throne; but his refusal to abandon the Roman Catholic faith lost him the promotion which he was offered by that monarch. Barclay returned to France in 1604, and became professor of civil law at Angers. His death is supposed to have taken place about the close of 1605. A treatise which he wrote on the power of the pope, showing that he has no authority over secular princes, was published after his death, in 1609, by his son. He is also the author of a Latin commentary on the title of the Pandects, "De Rebus Creditis et de Jurejurando," Paris, 1605; and of a "Commentary on the Life of Agricola," Paris, 1699.—J. T.

BARCLAY DE TOLLY, Michael, Prince, a celebrated Russian field-marshal, born in Livonia in 1750; died at Insterburg, 25th May, 1818. He was descended of a Scottish family that had been established at Livonia from the year 1689. He commenced his military career in the campaigns against the Turks, the Swedes, and the Poles. He was wounded in the right arm at the battle of Eylau; and was raised to the rank of lieutenant-general. About the end of 1808 his wounds compelled him to seek a temporary repose; but in March of the following year he resumed his command, and surprised the Swedes at Umeo, by a march of two days over the ice which covered the Gulf of Bothnia. The Emperor Alexander made him governor-general of Finland; and in the following year nominated him minister of war. He was author of the plan of operations, which was followed with signal advantage by the Russian army in the campaign of 1812. After the battle of Bautzen, 26th May, 1813, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the Prusso-Russian army; and, under him, Wittgenstein commanded the Russians; Blucher, the Prussians; and the Grand Duke Constantine, the Imperial Guard. On the 31st March, 1814, the day on which the allied armies entered Paris, Barclay was named general field-marshal. After having accompanied Alexander to London, Barclay rejoined the army, and took up his head quarters at Varsovia; but, on the return of Napoleon from Elba, he brought back the Russian army, by forced marches, to the Rhine, and from that to Chalons-sur-Marne, Melun, and Vertus. On his return to St. Petersburg in 1817, the emperor gave him a most distinguished reception, and appointed a grand review to be held in his honour. His health being much shattered, he, next year, undertook a voyage, with a view to its re-establishment; but he died on the way, at a short distance from Insterburg in Prussia.—G. M.

BARCO DE AVILA, Garcia, and his brother Juan Rodriguez, two Spanish fresco painters employed by the duke of Alba in the decoration of his palace. They worked in 1476.

BARCOKHEBA or BARCOKECAS, a famous Jewish impostor, lived in the first half of the second century of the Christian era. His name is composed of two eastern words, signifying "the son of a star;" but his real name was Simeon. After the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, the Jews, at different periods, sought to regain their independence; and Barcokheba, seeing his countrymen still impatient of the Roman yoke, resolved to attempt a new movement for their emancipation. With this view he tried to sound the dispositions of the Jews of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Italy, and Gaul; and, by his directions, his emissaries, of whom the celebrated Akiba was one, travelled over all the provinces of the Roman empire. When all was ready, Barcokheba solemnly announced himself as King and Messiah, and seized by surprise on many fortified places. All the inhabitants, particularly the Christians, who refused to submit to him were put to death. When the great success which at first attended his enterprise became known, great numbers of Jews, from all parts of the world, hastened to range themselves under his standard; and so formidable did this insurrection become, that Julius Severus, general of the armies of Adrian, and one of the greatest captains of the age, was compelled to act with extreme caution, and to content himself with surprising such detached bodies of the enemy as happened to be off their guard. Soon, however, the superior discipline of the Roman army prevailed. The Jewish army, shut up in the fortress of Bethar, succumbed under fatigue and famine; Barcokheba perished miserably, and all his followers were massacred or reduced to slavery. From this period may be dated the entire dispersion of the people of Israel over the face of the earth. This war cost the conquerors much blood. It continued for five years, and did not terminate until the year 136.—G. M.

BARCOS, Martin de, a French theologian, distinguished as a controversial writer, was born at Bayonne in 1600, and died in 1678. He studied theology under Jansenius, bishop of Ypres, and succeeded his uncle Jean Duvergier, as abbé of Saint Cyran. His principal performances are those in which he defends the supremacy of the pope.—J. S., G.

BARD, Samuel, an American physician, born at Philadel-