BENTHAM, JEREMY (1748-1832).—­Writer on jurisprudence and politics, b. in London, s. of a prosperous attorney, ed. at Westminster and Oxford, was called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn, but disliking the law, he made little or no effort to practise, but devoted himself to physical science and the theory of jurisprudence.  In 1776 he pub. anonymously his Fragment on Government, an able criticism of Blackstone’s Commentaries, which brought him under the notice of Lord Shelburne, and in 1780 his Introduction to Principles of Morals and Legislation.  Other works were Panopticon, in which he suggested improvements on prison discipline, Discourse on Civil and Penal Legislation (1802), Punishments and Rewards (1811), Parliamentary Reform Catechism (1817), and A Treatise on Judicial Evidence.  By the death of his f. he inherited a competency on which he was able to live in frugal elegance, not unmixed with eccentricity.  B. is the first and perhaps the greatest of the “philosophical radicals,” and his fundamental principle is utilitarianism or “the greatest happiness of the greatest number,” a phrase of which he is generally, though erroneously, regarded as the author.  The effect of his writings on legislation and the administration of the law has been almost incalculable.  He left his body to be dissected; and his skeleton, clothed in his usual attire, is preserved in University College, London.

Life by Bowring in collected works (J.H.  Barton, 11 vols., 1844). Study of Life and Work, Atkinson, 1903.

BENTLEY, RICHARD (1662-1742).—­Theologian, scholar, and critic, b. in Yorkshire of humble parentage, went at the age of 14 to Camb., afterwards had charge of a school at Spalding, and then becoming tutor to the s. of Dr. Stillingfleet, Dean of St. Paul’s, afterwards Bishop of Worcester (q.v.i), accompanied his pupil to Oxf.  After taking his degree at both universities, and entering the Church, he laid the foundation of his reputation as perhaps the greatest scholar England has produced by his letter in Mill’s ed. of the Chronicle of John Malelas, and his Dissertation on the Letters of Phalaris (1699), which spread his fame through Europe.  After receiving various preferments, including the Boyle lectureship and the Keepership of the Royal Library, he was, in 1700, appointed Master of Trinity, and afterwards was, largely owing to his own pugnacity and rapacity, which were almost equal to his learning, involved in a succession of litigations and controversies.  These lasted for 20 years, and led to the temporary loss of his academic preferments and honours.  In 1717, however, he was appointed Regius Prof. of Divinity.  During the contentions referred to he continued his literary activity without abatement, and pub. various ed. of the classics, including Horace and Terence.  He was much less successful in certain emendations of Milton which he attempted.  Having incurred the resentment of Pope he was rewarded by being assigned a niche in The Dunciad! His style is strong and nervous, and sparkles with wit and sarcasm.  His classical controversies called forth Swift’s Battle of the Books.