BECKFORD, WILLIAM, second son of Peter Beckford, West Indian planter, Speaker of the Jamaica Assembly, and Bathsheba, dau. of Col. Julines Hering, Paul Island, Jamaica; bapt. 19 Dec 1709; adm. (aged 9) Jan 1718/9; Balliol Coll. Oxford, matr. 17 Dec 1725; BA 1729; MA 1732; Leiden Univ. 1731; a medical student in Leiden and Paris to 1735; succeeded brother in Jamaican estates 1737; settled in England 1744; purchased Fonthill Abbey estate, Wiltshire, 1745; a West India merchant in London; Alderman, City of London (Bishopsgate Ward) from 25 Jun 1752, Sheriff of London 1755-6, Lord Mayor 1762-3, 1769-70; Master, Ironmongers’ Co., 1753; MP Shaftesbury 8 Dec 1747-54, City of London from 1754; a Tory on his entry to politics, but from 1756 onwards a staunch supporter of William Pitt; gave his backing to John Wilkes; his famous impromptu speech to King George III on the misdeeds of his ministers, 23 May 1770, was subsequently inscribed on the monument erected to his memory in Guildhall; laid the foundation stone of the new Newgate Prison 31 May 1770; m. 8 Jun 1756 Maria, widow of Francis Marsh, Jamaica, and sister of John Hamilton (qv); d. while Lord Mayor 21 Jun 1770. DNB.
BECKFORD, WILLIAM, illegitimate son of Richard Beckford (qv), and Elizabeth, dau. of Thomas Hay, Secretary for Jamaica; b. Jamaica 24 Sep 1744; at school under Markham (The Monthly Mirror, vii, 259); Balliol Coll. Oxford, matr. 17 Mar 1762; MA 6 Apr 1765; Grand Tour (Italy) 1770-1; of Somerley Hall, Suffolk; settled on his estates in Jamaica 1774; returned to England 1787; in Fleet Prison as a debtor 1790-2; author, A Descriptive Account of the Island of Jamaica, 1790, and other works; a contributor to literary magazines; a man of varied attainments; characterised as “Benevolus” in A Short Journey to the West Indies, 1790; m. 13 Apr 1773 his mother’s niece, Charlotte, dau. of Thomas Hay; d. 5 Feb 1799. DNB.
BECKINGHAM, STEPHEN, son of Stephen Beckingham, St. Giles [check], London, member Corporation of Cursitors, and Mary, dau. of Joseph Cox, Kidderminster, Worcs., attorney; b.; adm. (aged 13) Jan 1743/4 (Morel's); left 1748; Trinity Coll. Oxford, matr. 9 Jul 1748; adm. Lincoln’s Inn 9 Sep 1748; Grand Tour (Germany, Italy) 1751-3; Leipzig Univ. 1751; of Bishopsbourne Park, Kent; m. 1758 Dorothy [or Mary : check], dau. of John Sawbridge, Olantigh, Kent; d. 12 Oct 1813.
Bedell, Benjamin John, son of Benjamin H. Bedell, of Lee, Kent; b. Jan. 31, 1899; adm. Sept. 25, 1913 (A); left July 1915.
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BEDFORD, ---; b.; in under school list 1715.
BEDFORD, ALBERT EDWARD RILAND, son of William Kirkpatrick Riland Bedford (qv); b. 27 Dec 1864; adm. (R) 26 Jan 1877; left Dec 1883; Brasenose Coll. Oxford, matr. 21 Jan 1884; BA 1886; MA 1890; ordained deacon 1888 (York), priest 1889 (Worcester); Curate, Kimberworth, Yorks., 1888-9, New Milverton, Warwicks., 1889-90, St. Nicholas’s, Warwick, 1890-2, Sutton Coldfield, Warwicks., 1893-4; Vicar of Boldmere, Warwicks., 1894-7; Rector of West Hallam, Derbs., 1907 (check)-15; Vicar of St. George’s, Kidderminster, Worcs., 1915-8; Rector of Morley, Derbs., from 1918; m. 9 Oct 1901 Eva Elizabeth, eldest dau. of Henry Herbert Coldwell Horsfall, Penna Hall, Erdington, Warwicks., wire manufacturer.
BEDFORD, CHARLES ARTHUR, son of Charles Bedford, Huntingdon, Proctor, Doctors Commons, and Registrar of the Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Sarah, dau. of Laurence Desborough; b. 24 Jan 1805; adm. 19 Jan 1820; a proctor and notary, Doctors’ Commons, adm. 1829; m. at British Embassy, Paris, 31 Jul 1829 (IGI) Claudine Conroy, dau. of John Palmer, Calcutta; d. 27 Sep 1837.