Beaverbrook, Lord. (Maxwell Aitken). 1879-1964. Canadian/British newspaper magnate, politician. Advocated free trade within Commonwealth.

Belize. 4-9C Maya. 17C Buccaneers. 17C English settle. 17,18C Slaves brought. 1862 Colony =British Honduras. 1964 Self-government. 1973 =Belize. 1981 Independent.

Bell, Charles. 1774-1842. Scottish anatomist. Motor vs sensory nerves 1830. Anatomy of Brain 1811.

Benefit of Clergy. 1170-1827. Literates and clergy exempt from trial by English civil court. 1489- Once only, branding. Jonson.

Benét, Stephen. 1898-1943. US poet, writer. Devil and Daniel Webster 1937. John Brown’s Body 1928.

Bengal. 8C Pala emp. 11C Hindu. 13C Turk. 1576 Mogul. 1757 Britain. 1947 India(W)/Pakistan(E). 1971 E =Bangladesh.

Bengal Famine. 1770. 1/3 of population died. No British aid.

Berlin Blockade. 1948-9. Russia’s winter blockade is thwarted by US, British airlift of supplies.

Berlin Congress. 1878. Bulgaria divided, independence for Romania, Serbia. Turkey gains Macedonia. Russia gains Armenia. Britain gains Cyprus. Revised San Stefano treaty.

Berlin Decree. 1806. Napoleon announces Continental System blockading Britain.

Bermuda. 1511 Spain discovers. 1609 Shipwrecked British settle, inpiring Tempest. 1617-1834 Slavery. 1968 Autonomous British Colony. 1995 Referendum rejects independence.

Bernicia. 6C Anglian kingdom in Northumbria. Deira.

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.

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

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.

Bierce, Ambrose. 1842-1914. Satirical US writer. Cobwebs 1874. From an Empty Skull.

Billettes. Brothers of Charity, 14C religious order succeeded by Carmelites.

Biological Weapons Convention. 1972. Britain, US, USSR agreement to ban germ warfare.

Black and Tans. 1920-22. Brutal British police sent to suppress Irish unrest. Irish Free State.

Black Hole of Calcutta. 1756. Small cell in which 123 of 146 British alledgedly died after being imprisoned by Bengalis.

Bligh, William. 1754-1817. English captain of Bounty. Discovered breadfruit.

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