Benson
Benson names 6 different subjects across the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. Each is set out below.
Benson WILLIAM SHEPHERD, an American naval officer
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
WILLIAM SHEPHERD, an American naval officer, born in Macon, Ga., Sept. 25, 1855. He graduated at the Annapolis Naval Academy in 1877. He rose through various grades of the service until he became captain in 1909. He was made rear-admiral, May 11, 1915. In 1916 he became admiral and in 1917 was made President of the Navy General Board. In this capacity he co-operated closely with Secretary Daniels before and during the World War. In 1920 he became prominent as one of the principals in a sensational episode. Vice-Admiral Sims, who had been in command of the American fleet in Atlantic waters abroad during the war, testified before a naval inquiry committee in Washington that prior to his departure to take command he had been warned by a high navy official: "Don't let the British pull the wool over your eyes. We would as leave fight them as the Germans." The disclosure made a painful impression, both in America and abroad. It was felt certain that the high official mentioned must be either Secretary Daniels or Admiral Benson, the only two who were qualified by rank to give orders to Sims. Secretary Daniels came out promptly in a sweeping denial that he had ever used such language or given such instructions. Sims later stated that Benson was the official that he referred to, and the latter himself, although denying all recollection of having used such words, admitted that he had cautioned Sims against letting himself be too much swayed by British influences.
Benson EDWARD WHITE, Archbishop of Canterbury
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
EDWARD WHITE, Archbishop of Canterbury, born near Birmingin 1829; graduated at Cambridge in 1852, and was for some time a master at Rugby. He held the headmastership of Wellington College from its opening in 1858 to 1872, when he was made a Canon and Chancellor of Lincoln Cathedral. In 1875 he was appointed Chaplain in Ordinary to the Queen, and, in December, 1876, was nominated to the newly erected Bishopric of Truro. Here he began the building of a cathedral (1880-1887), most of the first cost, £110,- 000, having been gathered by his own energy. In 1882 he was translated to Canterbury to succeed Dr. Tait as Primate of all England. He published several volumes of sermons, a small work on "Cathedrals," and a valuable article on "St. Cyprian." He died at Hawarden, Oct. 11, 1896.
Benson ARTHUR CHRISTOPHER, an English essayist and educator
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
ARTHUR CHRISTOPHER, an English essayist and educator, born in 1862, the brother of E. F. and R. H. Benson, and the son of Edward White Benson, former Archbishop of Canterbury. He was educated at King's College, Cambridge, and from 1885 to 1903 was a master at Eton College and became well known as a writer of essays. The best known of these are "The Upton Letters" (1905); "From a College Window" (1906); and "The Silent Isle" (1919). He also wrote poetry of considerable merit and several novels. In addition to these he prepared a biography of his a biography of Ruskin in 1911.
Benson ROBERT HUGH, an English prelate and writer
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
ROBERT HUGH, an English prelate and writer, born in 1871, brother of A. C. and E. F. Benson. He was educated at Trinity College. He became associated with Dean Vaughan and other Roman Catholic clerics, and in 1903 was received in the Roman Catholic church. He was ordained priest in the following year. In 1911 he was appointed private chamberlain to Pope Pius X. He wrote much on religious subjects and published several novels. The best known of the latter are "The Coward"; "Come Rack! Come Rope!"; "An Average Man" (1913). He died in 1914.
Benson EDWARD FREDERIC, an English author
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
EDWARD FREDERIC, an English author, born in Wellington College, July 24, 1867; educated at King's College, Cambridge; worked at Athens for the British Archæological School in 1892-1895, and in Egypt, for the Hellenic Society, in 1895; traveled in Algiers, Egypt, Greece, and Italy. His writings include "Dodo" (1893); "Rubicon" (1894); "Judgment Books" (1895); "Limitations" (1896); "The Babe" (1897); "Vintage" (1898); "The Capsina" (1899); "Angel "Ang of Pain" (1906); "Dodo the Second" (1914); "The Tortoise" (1917); etc.
Benson FRANK WESTON, an American painter
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
FRANK WESTON, an American painter, born in Salem, Mass., March 24, 1862; was educated at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and in Paris; became a member of the Society of American Artists in 1888, and of the National Acedemy. He won the Hallgarten and the Clarke prizes at the National Academy of Design in 1889 and 1891, and is best known for his portraits.
What Has Changed in the Last Century
Collier's caught this family in mid-career in 1921, and the reputations have since shifted. E. F. Benson, listed here for "Dodo" and "The Tortoise," is now read almost entirely for the Mapp and Lucia comedies, every one of which he wrote after 1921 and before his death in 1940. His brother A. C. Benson, described only as an essayist, is remembered today chiefly for words he supplied to Elgar in 1902 — "Land of Hope and Glory" — and went on to be Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, until his death in 1925; Robert Hugh Benson's apocalyptic novel "Lord of the World," unmentioned above, was publicly recommended by Pope Francis a century after its author died. Frank Weston Benson, called "best known for his portraits," is now valued as an American Impressionist of sunlit outdoor figures and as an etcher of wildfowl, while Admiral William S. Benson, whose quarrel with Admiral Sims filled the 1921 entry, lived on to 1932 and is now noted mainly as the Navy's first Chief of Naval Operations.
Written for this edition, 2026.