BULL, OLE BORNE31ANN, a famous violinist, was b. 5th Feb., 1810, at Bergen, in Norway. His father, it is said, attempted to coerce him into the study of theology, and would not permit a musical instrument about the house. This foolish treatment only gave a more decisive character to the peculiar genius of the boy. At the age of 18 he was placed at the university of Christiania, from which he is said to have been expelled for taking temporary charge of the orchestra at one of the theaters. In 1829, he went to Cassel, in Germany, to study under Spohr, but was so coldly received that he betook himself to the study of law at Gottingen. He was subsequently at Minden, whence, in consequence of a duel, he fled to Paris in 1S31. An unsuccessful attempt to drown himself in the Seine was the turning-point in his life. He thereafter acquired the pat ronage of a lady of rank, and rapidly rose to fame as a violinist. His style of playing was like that of Paganini. B., however, wished to excel his model in originality, and in triumphing over the most extraordinary difficulties; but it. was impossible for him to
follow the flight of the great Italian, in whose brain some capricious musical demon seemed to lurk. Nevertheless, he was received in Italy with prodigious enthusiasm Malibran herself embracing him on the stage at Naples. In 1830, he visited England, Scotland, and Ireland, and subsequently traveled in a professional capacity through Belgium, Holland, Russia, and Germany. After a long repose, lie sailed for America, whence he returned in 1850; but he again went out, and was so successful, that he thought of retiring from public life. He purchased in Pennsylvania 125,000 acres of excellent ground, and founded a colony of Scandinavians. This turned out a complete failure, and B. was again compelled to resume his violin. lie visited Europe, returning with a fortune to the United States in 1869; he revisited Europe in 1875 and 1879.