BECKERATH, HERMANN VON, one of the most remarkable public characters of Ger many. was born at Krefeld (in Prussia,) Dec., 1801. He sprang from a commercial family, and made a considerable fortune as a banker. But lie gave himself also to pur 61IiIS of a more intellectual character, and especially to the studies of jurisprudence and polities. The accession of Frederick-William IV. to the throne roused 13. to a sense of the political condition of his country, and he devoted himself to work out its constitit• tional freedom. In 1843, lie was elected representative of his native town in the provin cial diet, and continued for several years to take a prominent part in Prussian politics. He was a deputy in the national assembly which sprang up in the eventful year 1848, and held its sittings at Frankfort. His eloquence exercised considerable influence on this assembly. lee was appointed minister of finance, and shortly after called to Berlin, to construct a cabinet; but in this lie failed. His strictly constitutional advice was not
apparently agreeable to the court, and lie returned to Frankfort. An advocate for Ger man unity, it was he who made use of the expression: " This waiting for Austria is death to the union of Germany." But lie refused his assent to any revolutionary meas ure. When the retrograde movement set in, lie resigned the posts he held under gov ernment, but continued, as a member of the second Prussian chamber, a vigorous oppo sition to the 31anteuffel ministry, which had deserted the cause of German unity. He withdrew from the arena of political strife in 1852. After the return of Manteuffel to power, in 18e8, B. was again elected a member of the Prussian second chamber; but lie was obliged to decline the honor, on account of failing health. lie devoted his later years to the affairs of Krefeld, his native town, where lie died in May, 1870.