Page:Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography Volume 1.pdf/756

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
BOU
708
BOU

doctrines and conduct of the reformers, boldly declaring that treason and murder went unpunished, and that the whole terrors of the state were reserved for a religious sect whose members were the most orderly and loyal of all the subjects of the crown. For this courageous defence of his coreligionists, he was brought before the metropolitan court, and after some delay, caused by the demise of Henry II., condemned to the scaffold.—J. S., G.

* BOURGADE, François, a French missionary who, since his return from Algeria, where he spent a number of years in benevolent enterprises, has given to the world a number of interesting works, of which the following are the most important—"Soirées de Carthage, ou Dialogues entre un prêtre catholique, un muphti et un cadi," 1852; and "Memoires sur trois tombeaux trouvés à Tunis," 1852.

BOURGEAT, Louis-Alexander-Marguerite, a French litterateur, born at Grenoble in 1747; died in 1814. The feebleness of his health compelled him to renounce the bar, and he devoted himself to literature and science. After travelling some time in Dauphiné he came to Paris, where he was employed in periodical works and other literary labours, and obtained in 1813 the prize of the Academy of Grenoble for a history of the Allobroges. After all his labours, he died, it is said, in misery and despair.—J. G.

* BOURGEAU, A., a French botanical collector, who has visited Spain and other parts of the continent of Europe, as well as Teneriffe, and has made valuable contributions to the Herbaria of Europe. He is now engaged in an expedition to North America, under Mr. Palliser and Dr. Hector.—J. H. B.

* BOURGEOIS, Anicet, a dramatic writer, known to the present age as the author of various farces, melodramas, and fairy pieces, all very clever; but he has not, as yet, attached his name to any regular play of a high order.—J. F. C.

BOURGEOIS, Francis, a second-rate landscape painter, remembered by his charitable heroisms, but not by his good works. He was born in London of Swiss parents in 1756. He was intended for the army under his father's patron, the brave defender of Gibraltar that Reynolds painted, Lord Heathfield, who, in the Vernon gallery, with perennial vigour, is still seen amid the Spanish fire and flame grasping his keys. Evincing a taste for art, he was placed under Loutherbourg, the pupil of Van Loo, the first inventor of the diorama. Bourgeois adopted his style in land and sea pieces. In 1776 he went to Italy, and returned to shine at the academy. He was born, like most mediocre, courteous, dull men, for honours. In 1791 the king of Poland knighted him, and made him his painter. In 1794 George III. selected him as court landscape painter, and he became a royal academician. Some time before his death Sir Francis did the best thing he ever did; he left a noble collection of pictures, bequeathed to him by Mr. Noel Desenfans, to the Dulwich college, where they still remain, perpetual educators, warners, and guides. He gave £10,000 to keep them in preservation, £2000 for the repairs of the gallery, and £1000 to the masters and fellows of St. Martin's charity. He died in 1811, and was buried beside Desenfans in Dulwich college. He was a mannered, feeble artist.—W. T.

BOURGEOIS, N., a French historian, born at Rochelle in 1710; died in 1776. His historical researches, which were numerous and minute, were devoted chiefly to the history of Poitou. He resided for a long time in America, during which he composed his poem of "Christopher Columbus." It would appear that his manuscripts have been unfortunately long since lost.—J. G.

BOURGOING, François, a French ecclesiastic, contemporary of St. Vincent de Paul, to whom he resigned his first cure, that of Clichy, and friend of Berulle, whom he assisted in founding the congregation of the oratory, born in 1585; died in 1662. In 1641, after the death of Berulle and of his successor Condren, he became superior-general of the congregation. That office he held twenty years, in great repute for learning and piety; but in ill odour with some of his inferiors on account of a too zealous concern about his own dignity and authority. A year before his death he resigned it, partly in disgust and partly on account of increasing infirmities.—J. S., G.

BOURMONT, Louis Auguste Victor, count de Ghaisne, marshal of France, born 2nd September, 1773; died 27th October, 1846. At the age of sixteen he became an officer of the French guards, which were disbanded at the Revolution. He then joined the count of Artois at Coblentz about the close of 1791, and fought on the side of the royalists against the revolutionary party. He took a prominent part in the civil war in La Vendée, and was for a time one of the chiefs of the Vendean peasantry. After the final pacification of that province in 1799 he visited Paris, and was solicited by the first consul to accept the rank of general of brigade. The refusal provoked Bonaparte, who, after the attempt upon his life by the infernal machine, caused Bourmont to be cast into the Temple prison, and afterwards transferred to Besançon. About the end of 1804 he contrived to escape from prison, and took refuge in Portugal. When the French army, which seized on that country in flagrant violation of justice and liberty, was reduced to great straits by the British forces under Wellington, Bourmont quitted his retreat and offered his services to Junot, which were gratefully accepted. After the convention of Cintra he embarked for France with his family, but on his arrival he was thrown into prison at Nantes. Junot obtained his release, but in order to avoid exile he was compelled to accept a commission in the army of Italy. He acquired great distinction in the Russian campaign, and in the campaign of 1813 in Germany he contributed greatly to the victory of Lutzen. Before Leipzig, and throughout the subsequent retreat of the French army. General Bourmont displayed both great military skill and bravery; and when the allies entered France he distinguished himself by his heroic defence of Nogent. On the abdication of Napoleon, Bourmont was appointed commander of the sixth military division. During the Hundred Days he at first joined Napoleon, though evidently by no means hearty in his cause; but on the opening of the campaign he went over to the enemy before Charleroi. After the final overthrow of Bonaparte, General Bourmont was appointed commander of the second division of the royal guard. He took an active part in the invasion of Spain by the French under the duke d'Angoulême, and on his return was created a peer. In 1829 he was appointed minister-of-war, and in the following year he was made commander-in-chief of the army sent to invade Algeria, and was created a marshal of France; but on the breaking out of the revolution in 1830 he was superseded by General Clausel. In consequence of his refusal to take the oath of allegiance to Louis Philippe, he was deprived of his employments. He accompanied the duchess de Berri to La Vendée, and afterwards repaired to Portugal for the purpose of supporting the cause of Don Miguel. In 1846 he availed himself of the amnesty proclaimed in 1840 to return to France, but survived only three months.—J. T.

BOURGUET, Louis, a French mineralogist of the first half of the eighteenth century, was born at Nismes on the 23d April, 1678. On the revocation of the edict of Nantes his father emigrated to Zurich, where he became a merchant, and in this profession was followed by his son. After travelling frequently into Italy, Bourguet was appointed professor of philosophy and mathematics in Neufchatel, where he died on the 31st December, 1742. Of his writings the principal are—"Lettres Philosophiques sur la formation des sels et des cristaux," &c., published at Amsterdam in 1729; and "Traité des Pétrifications," published at Paris and the Hague in 1742.—W. S. D.

BOURLIER, Jean Baptiste, a French prelate, born at Dijon in 1731. In 1789 he lost several benefices which he had enjoyed previous to the outbreak of the Revolution, and in the following two or three years was several times subjected to prosecution. In 1802 he was created bishop of Evreux, and subsequently baron and count of the empire. After her divorce Josephine retired to the diocese of this prelate, who became her almoner. Having enjoyed the rank of senator under the empire, and made submission in proper time to the Bourbons, he was raised to the peerage in 1814.—J. S., G.

BOURNE, Hugh, founder of the primitive methodist connection in England, was born near Stoke-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, in 1772. He became a zealous preacher in connection with the Wesleyan communion, in which he remained till about his thirtieth year. He then associated himself with William Clowes, and some other Wesleyan preachers, in a movement to revive a custom which had been common in the time of the Wesleys, but which had fallen into disuse in England, though carried out to a great extent in America—this, namely, of holding large open air or camp meetings for worship and preaching. The subject came before the Wesleyan conference, and a deliverance was given, pronouncing such meetings to be improper, and likely to be productive of mischief. This led to the secession of