Robert Beatson
Robert Beatson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1741 |
| Died | 1818 |
| Nationality | Scottish |
Robert Beatson, LL.D.
Life
He was born on 25 June 1741 at Dysart in Fife, Scotland, the son of David Beatson of Vicarsgrange.[2]
He was educated for the military profession, and on one of his title-pages describes himself as 'late of his majesty's
Afterwards he seems to have farmed in Scotland.[
Works
- In 1786 Beatson published in three parts his 'Political Index to the Histories of Great Britain and Ireland, or a complete register of the hereditary honours, public offices, and persons in office from the earliest periods to the present time'. It was dedicated to the author's friend Adam Smith. In 1788 it reached a second edition, in two volumes, containing nearly twice as much matter as the first, and a third edition in 1806.
- In 1790 appeared, in three volumes, Beatson's Naval and Military Memoirs of Great Britain, from the year 1727 to the present time, in which the naval element predominates. It has lists of the ships in the squadrons and fleets of France and Spain as well as of Great Britain during the period dealt with, and also despatches, state papers, and geographical descriptions of the places referred to in the text.
- In 1807 appeared three volumes of A Chronological Register of both Houses of Parliament from the Union in 1708 to the Third Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Besides lists of peers qualified to sit in each parliament, bounties and boroughs alphabetically arranged are given in chronological order, with the names of their members in every House of Commons during the period, and notes on the changes, with their causes, in the representation of each constituency. Election petitions and the decisions on them are given with a statement of the elective authority, and of the nature of the electoral franchise in each constituency.[4]
- Beatson was also the author of a pamphlet on the Battle of Ushant (1778): A New and Distinct View of the memorable Action of the 27 July 1778, in which the Aspersions cast on the Flag Officers are shown to be totally unfounded. [5]
Namesakes
The present Robert Beatson[6] has often been confused (including by sources of his time)[7] with two other writers of the same name:
- Robert Beatson (1730–1805) of Kilrie, writer on windmills; father of Helena Beatson[8] and Maj.-Gen. Alexander Beatson.[9]
- Robert Beatson (1732–1815) of Pitteadie, writer on the agriculture of Fife.[10]
Notes
- ^ a b c Espinasse 1885, p. 21.
- ISBN 090219884X. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2015.)
{{cite book}}:|website=ignored (help - ^ The History of the Corps of Royal Engineers, Volume I, Whitworth Porter, Chatham 1889, p216.
- ^ Espinasse 1885, p. 21-22.
- ^ Espinasse 1885, p. 22.
- ^ Alexander John Beatson (1860), Genealogical account of the family of Beatson, p. 13 number IV and p.26
- ^ Profile of Helena Beatson at the Dictionary of Pastellists Before 1800.
- ^ Alexander John Beatson (1860), Genealogical account of the family of Beatson, p. 4, number VI.
- ^ Alexander John Beatson (1860), Genealogical account of the family of Beatson, p. 9, number III
References
- Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Espinasse, Francis (1885). "Beatson, Robert". In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 4. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 21–22.
- Endnotes
- Beatson's writings
- Gentlemen's Magazine for April 1818; "Obituary. Robert Beatson, LL.D., F.R.S. Edinb". Gentleman's Magazine. 88, part 1: 376. April 1818.
- Annual Biography and Obituary for 1819
- Biographical Dictionary of the Living Authors of Great Britain and Ireland, 1816. Beatson, Robert, Esq. LL.D. F.R.S. Edin., page 18
Further reading
- Chambers, Robert; Thomson, Thomas Napier (1857). . A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen. Vol. 1. Glasgow: Blackie and Son. p. 215 – via Wikisource.
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