KEY AND INDEX 



man astronomer; has been called with some rea- 

 son the father of modern observational astron- 

 omy. Became astronomer in opposition to his 

 parents' wishes, and in 1810 was Professor of 

 Astronomy and Observatory Director at Konigs- 

 berg. He determined the parallax of 61 Cyngi, 

 and made the first measurement of distance of 

 a star from the solar system. He was one of 

 the first to consider the personal equation of 

 astronomers. 



Bessemer, Sir Henry, vi, 291. Born at Charl- 

 ton, England, 1813; died in 1898. English in- 

 ventor. He turned his attention at an early 

 age to mechanical inventions. Devised a method 

 of impressing stamp of internal revenue office 

 in order to prevent forgeries. Made a gold paint 

 which was very successful commercially. Dur- 

 ing Crimean War turned his attention to ma- 

 king stronger cannon. He first produced an 

 improved form of cast-iron, and finally steel by 

 bringing air into contact with molten iron. The 

 Bessemer process had a marked effect in cheap- 

 ening cost of steel, and making it available for 

 all 'kinds of engineering work. Invented also a 

 method of compounding graphite into a solid 

 block for pencil making, a method of type-cast- 

 ing, and several other processes. 



Bichat, Marie Francois, iv, 107. Born at Thoi- 

 rette, 1771 ; died at Paris, 1802. French anato- 

 mist and physiologist. Ended his brilliant career 

 at an early age through overwork. He lectured 

 on anatomy and was physician in the Hotel 

 Dieu, Paris. He was the founder of the science 

 of pathological anatomy, and was the first to 

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