Bishop, Henry. 1786-1855. English song composer: Home Sweet Home 1821.

Bjørnson, Bjørnstjerne. 1832-1910. Norwegian poet, novelist: Kongen 1877, National anthem.

Bjørnsson, Sveinn. 1881-1952. First President of Iceland Republic, 1944-.

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

Black Prince. Son of Edward III. Captured King John II of France at Poitiers, 1356.

Boethius. 475-524. Roman translator of Aristotle. Neoplatonic. Stoic. Consolation of Philosophy 523 (while imprisoned).

Bolt, Robert. 1924-95. English dramatist. A Man for all Seasons 1960.

Bonivard, François de. 1494-1570. Prior of St. Victori, Geneva. Reformer, imprisonned at Chillon, 1530-4. Subject of Byron poem.

Boreas. Greek personification of the north wind.

Borgia, Cesare. 1476-1507. Ruthless Italian Machiavellian statesman. Son of Pope Alexander VI.

Boswell, James. 1740-95. Scottish author. Life of Samuel Johnson 1791.

Bouchardon, Edme. 1698-1762. French Neoclassical sculptor. Equestrian Louis XV, Four Seasons Fountain, Cupid.

Boulez, Pierre. 1925-. French 12-tone avant-garde composer. Sonatine 1946.

Bragg, William. 1862-1942. English discoverer of crystallography by x-ray diffraction. with son Lawrence (1890-1971).

Brinvilliers, Marie. 1630-76. French poisoner, beheaded. Poisons Affair.

Britannicus. 41-55. Son of Claudius, poisoned by Nero.

Browning, Elizabeth Barrett. 1806-61. English poet: Sonnets from the Portuguese 1848. Aurora Leigh 1857. Wife of Robert.

Buisson, Ferdinand. 1841-1932. French educator. Founded League of Human Rights 1898.

Bull, John. Personification of England popularized by Arbuthnot 1712.

Burr, Aaron. 1756-1836. US VP 1801-5. Tied in presidential election with Jefferson. Killed Hamilton in duel 1804. Acquitted of treason 1807.

Bushido. 12C- Samurai warrior code. Personal honour, loyalty.

Buson. 1716-83. Japanese haiku poet/painter.

Busoni, Ferruccio. 1866-1924. Italian neoclassical, anti-Romantic composer in Liszt tradition. Fantasia 1903-4.

Byron, Lord. 1788-1824. English Romantic poet. Aided Greek indep. Hours of Idleness, Prisoner of Chillon, Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage 1812, Don Juan 1812.

Cabot, Sebastian. c1474-1557. Venetian explorer for Spain and England. Hudson’s Bay, South America.

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