BESSEY, Charles Edwin, American bot anist: b. Milton, Ohio, 21 May 1845; d. Lin coln, Neb., 25 Feb. 1915. He was graduated at thc Michigan Agricultural College 1869, studied at Harvard under Asa Gray 1872 and 1875 76, and was professor of botany at the Iowa Agricultural College 1870-84; professor of bot any at the University of Nebraska in 1884, and head dean of the university 1909. He published 'The Geography of Iowa) (1876)
BESSIkRES, Jean Baptiste, DUKE OF Isnun, French marshal: b. Preissac, 5 Aug. 1768; d. Liitzen, 1 May 1813. Entering the army in 1792 as a private soldier, in less than two years he had attained the rank of cap tain. After making the Spanish campaign, he
passed into the army of Italy and soon at tracted the notice of Napoleon who took him to Egypt in 1798, where his conduct at St Jean d'Acre and Aboukir covered him with glory. At the accession of Napoleon to the throne, he became marshal of France. He showed his usual conspicuous courage at Austerlitz Jena, Eylau and Friedland, and, raised to the rank of Duke of Istria, commanded in Spain in 1808 09. In the Russian campaign he led the cav alry of the Guard, and did much by his sleep less courage and presence of mind to save the wreck of the army in the disastrous retreat from Moscow. On the morning of the battle of Liitzen he fell mortally wounded by a can non ball. He was a great cavalry leader, cool and dauntless, and beloved by his troops.