mountains, ravines, and swamps, has never been surpassed. Speaking of him, Herrera, who in his writings is anything but enthusiastic, says: "No living man in all the Indies dared attempt such an enterprise, or would have succeeded in it, save Vasco Nuñez de Balboa."

BEECHY, FREDERICK WILLIAM.-Born in London in 1796; died in 1856. An English naval officer of great ability. Served in English Navy during wars with France and America. In 1818 he was with Franklin, in Bucham's Arctic Expedition, and afterwards with Parry, in the voyage of the Hecla; served several years in the Pacific Ocean, making many valuable surveys and discoveries; passed through Behring's Straits, reaching nearly 72 deg. north latitude. A man of great practical attainments, he made many valuable additions to geography, navigation, meteorology, hydrography, as well as some valuable contributions to literature; made rear-admiral in English Navy in 1854, and President of the Geographical Society in 1855.

BANKS, SIR JOSEPH.-Born in London in 1743, and died in 1820. Was a man of vast scientific attainments, explorer and voyager, from Labrador to New Foundland, and from Iceland and the Hebrides, to the Society Islands in the South Sea. He accompanied Captain Cook in his first voyage to the Pacific, to observe the transit of Venus; his valuable services in this voyage, occupying three years, opened up much that was new and useful to the scientific world. His discoveries, in natural history and botany, together with many valuable drawings and specimens and vast

collection of books, he bequeathed to the British Museum. He was made baronet in 1781, and received the Order of the Bath in 1795.

BOUGAINVILLE, LOUIS ANTOINE DE.-Born in Paris in 1729; died there in 1814. A celebrated author, politician, soldier and sailor, and the first French circumnavigator of the globe. Was with Montcalm in Canada, as aid-de-camp; set sail around the world in 1766, passing through the Straits of Magellan, and through the Paumatou group, discovering new islands, arriving at Tahiti April 6th, 1768; visited the Samoan group, naming them the Navigators, called at the New Hebrides, and made a partial survey of the east coast of Australia; sailed through the Louisades and along the Solomon Archipelago, and harbored at Port Praslin, New Ireland. From there, after repairing his ships, he skirted the northern coast of New Guinea, discovered some new islands, and through the Molluccas, the Indian Ocean, rounded the Cape of Good Hope, reaching St. Malo in 1769, after an absence of about two years and four months; published a 2-volume account of his voyage in 1771-2. In 1778, was in command in the French navy, and served against England, in the American War of Independence, with distinguished courage and ability. Planned several voyages to the Arctic Seas, but meeting with but little encouragement, resigned from the navy in 1790; was afterwards ennobled by Napoleon I.

BEHRING, VITUS-Born in Denmark in 1680, and died in 1741. He entered the Russian naval service in 1704, and was made captain by Peter the Great, for distinguished services. He was placed in command

in 1725, of a voyage of discovery to the Arctic Seas; discovered the straits that bear his name, and the separation between Asia and America (in second voyage of 1728), outlining and surveying the coast of Siberia. He made a third voyage in 1741, on a North Polar expedition, reaching about 69 deg. north latitude, but owing to stress of weather and sickness among his crews, was compelled to return; was wrecked on Behring Island, in 55 deg. 22 min. north latitude, 166 deg. east longitude, where he died, after going through all the hardships that could befall a castaway in the desolate Polar Seas.

BYRON, JOHN.-Born November 8th, 1723, and died April 10th, 1786. Served with Anson as midshipman; was wrecked off the Patagonian coast, and lived on a desolate island in that region for five years (1740-46); publishing a narative of his sufferings in 1768; was placed in command of an exploring expedition in 1764, making some important discoveries. As an accomplished sailor, he had few superiors, and as an author, met with success. His sons also were men of mark and ability, culminating in his grandson, Lord Byron, the poet.

CARTERET, PHILIP.-Was captain of the Swallow, one of the vessels under Samuel Wallis, which sailed from England on a voyage of discovery to the South Seas, August 22d, 1766; his second voyage was on private account, discovering and naming Gower and Carteret Isles, Queen Charlotte Isles, Pitcairn, etc., rediscovering and naming the Admiralty group, and returning to England in 1769.