BENYOWSICY, MAumcE AveleSrts, Count de. n man of remarkable character and extraordinary fortunes, was born at Verhowa, in Bungary, 1741. He served in the seven years' war, and during his youth displayed that restless love of adventure which marked his subsequent career. He went to Dantzic for the purpose of tlaVi• gallon, and from thence made several voyages to Hamburg and Plymouth. When about to start for the East Indies in 1767, lie received a pressing invitation to join the Polish confederation, with which he complied, and 'shared most of the dangers and glories of the campaign against the Russians until he was taken prisoner in .May. 1769, After being transferred front one Russian prison to another, he was, in IX c., ished to Siberia, and from thence, in a few months, to Kamtchatka. During the voy age his exertions and skill saved the vessel that carried lain. This rceornineinit prisoner to the governor. Nilov, who was further pleased by B.'s Ekill as a elies;F-player, and made him tutor in his family. In this capacity he rained the affections ofAillana sht, daughter of the governor, by whom he was assisted in his plans for escape; which, however, was not effected without a struggle, in which the governor was killed. B. with ninety-slx companions, in a ship well armed and provisioned, and with a consider able amount cf treasure, set sail from Katutchatka in May, 177D Raving visited some of the islands of Japan and Formosa, 13. arrived at :Macao on the 22d of Sept., where
he remained until the 14th Jan., and then sailed for France. He had not been here long when the French government proposed that be should found a colony at Madagas car, and he at once acquiesced. B. arrived on the island in Feb., 1774, and was made king in 1776 by the chiefs in conclave, he adopting the native costume. Returning to Europe with a view to establish commercial relations between France and Madagascar, B. met with a very cold reception from the French government, and returned to the ser vice of Austria, in the hope that the emperor would assist him in his schemes—a hope not fulfilled. Ile next made unsuccessful overtures to the British government, but at length receiving assistance from private persons in England and America, departed again for Madagascar, where lie arrived in 1785; and, involving himself in contention with the French government of the isle of France, was killed in battle, May23,1786. B. was a man of remarkable resources, great decision of character, courage, and sagacity. Ile was particularly well versed in human nature, a knowledge which proved of essential ser vice to hint during his brief hut most remarkable careen—Memoirs and Travelsof Count de Benyoirxku,1Vritten. by himself and Edited by IV. (2 vols. 4to. Loud. 1790),