Berthelot, Marcelin. 1827-1907. French organic chemist. Alcohol synthesis 1854. Organic Chemistry 1860.

Berthollet, Claude. 1749-1822. French chemist. Chlorine Bleach 1785. Ammonia 1785.

Bertin, Jean. 1917-75. French engineer. Jet silencers; air cushion vehicles.

Bérulle, Cardinal Pierre. 1575-1629. Founder of Oratory. ‘French’ school of spiritual thought. Congregation of priests...Lazarites. Congregationalists.

Berzelius, Jacob. 1779-1848. Swedish chemist, created symbolic notation 1808. Atomic Weights, 1818. Silicon 1823.

Besant, Annie. 1847-1933. English Theosophist. Founded Indian Home Rule League 1916.

Bessarabia. Disputed Black Sea region between Romania and Russia. 14C Moldavia. 15/16C Ottoman. 1812 Russia. 1918 Romania. 1940 MSSR. 1941 Romania. 1944 USSR. 1991 Moldova.

Bessel, F.W. 1784-1846. German astronomer. B Function 1817.

Bessemer, Henry. 1813-98. English inventor of economical steel making process, 1856.

Best, Charles. 1899-1978. Canadian. insulin discoverer. Banting.

Bethmann-Hollweg. 1856-1921. German Chancellor, 1909-17. Tried to mediate before WWI. Overthrown by Hindenburg and Ludendorf.

Betti, Ugo. 1892-1953. Italian dramatist. La Padrona 1927.

Beurse, van der. 14C Brussels moneylender. Led to term, Bourse.

Bevan, Aneurin. 1897-1960. British Socialist MP 1929-60. Architect of National Health Service, 1948.

Beveridge Report. 1942. Advocated ‘cradle to grave’ social insurance in Britain.

Bevin, Ernest. 1881-1951. British labour leader, statesman. TUC. Initiated Colombo Plan.

Bhadracarya-pranidhana. Buddhist vows of good conduct.

Bhagavad-Gita. (Lord’s Song) Hindu scripture.

Bhagavatas. 2C BC. Hindu sect.

Bhascara. 1114-85. Hindu mathematician/astrologer. First user of decimal system.

Bhutan. Himalayan kingdom. 9C Tibet invaders settle. c1630 Independent. 17,18C Tibet invades. 1865 Part British 1907 Monarchy. 1910 British Protectorate. 1949 Indian Protectorate.

Bhutto, Ali. 1928-79. Pakistani leader 70-77. Deposed by Zia.

Biafra. 1967-70. Ojukwu-led Ibos try to secede from Nigeria resulting in famine.

Bible. Hebrew and Christian sacred scriptures translated from Hebrew and Aramaic. 3C BC Greek translation. 1382 Wycliffe, Rogers, English. 1522-34 Luther, German. 1611 King James version. Vulgate by St. Jerome. Apocrypha.

Bibliothèque Nationale. French National Library begun by Charles V collection now houses 20M works. 7M Books.

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