BUNYAN, JOHN, author of the “Pilgrim’s Progress,” born in Elstow, near Bedford, the son of a tinker, and bred himself to that humble craft; he was early visited with religious convictions, and brought, after a time of resistance to them, to an earnest faith in the gospel of Christ, his witness for which to his poor neighbours led to his imprisonment, an imprisonment which extended first and last over twelve and a half years, and it was towards the close of it, and in the precincts of Bedford jail, in the spring of 1676, that he dreamed his world-famous dream; here two-thirds of it were written, the whole finished the year after, and published at the end of it; extended, it came out eventually in two parts, but it is the first part that is the Pilgrim’s Progress, and ensures it the place it holds in the religious literature of the world; encouraged by the success of it—­for it leapt into popularity at a bound—­Bunyan wrote some sixty other books, but except this, his masterpiece, not more than two of these, “Grace Abounding” and the “Holy War,” continue to be read (1628-1688).

BUONTALENTI, an Italian artist, born at Florence, one of the greatest, being, like Michael Angelo, at once architect, painter, and sculptor (1536-1608).

BURBAGE, RICHARD, English tragedian, born in London, associate of Shakespeare, took the chief role in “Hamlet,” “King Lear,” “Richard III.,” &c. (1562-1618).

BURCHELL, MR., a character in the “Vicar of Wakefield,” noted for his habit of applying “fudge” to everything his neighbours affected to believe.

BURCKHARDT, Swiss historian and archaeologist, born at Bale, author of “Civilisation in Italy during the Renaissance”; b. 1818.

BURCKHARDT, JOHN LUDVIG, traveller, born at Lausanne, sent out from England by the African Association to explore Africa; travelled by way of Syria; acquired a proficiency in Arabic, and assumed Arabic customs; pushed on to Mecca as a Mussulman pilgrim—­the first Christian to risk such a venture; returned to Egypt, and died at Cairo just as he was preparing for his African exploration; his travels were published after his death, and are distinguished for the veracious reports of things they contain (1784-1817).

BURDER, GEORGE, Congregational minister, became secretary to the London Missionary Society, author of “Village Sermons,” which were once widely popular (1752-1832).

BURDETT, SIR FRANCIS, a popular member of Parliament, married Sophia, the youngest daughter of Thomas Coutts, a wealthy London banker, and acquired through her a large fortune; becoming M.P., he resolutely opposed the government measures of the day, and got himself into serious trouble; advocated radical measures of reform, many of which have since been adopted; was prosecuted for a libel; fined L1000 for condemning the Peterloo massacre, and imprisoned three months; joined the Conservative party in 1835, and died a member of it (1770-1844).