Index Bb
Rulers

Index Bb-Bh

Bbumba, Syda (Namirembe) (b. Jan. 7, 1953), finance minister of Uganda (2009-11). She was also minister of economic monitoring (1996-99), energy and mineral development (1999-2006), and gender, labour, and social development (2006-09, 2011-12).

Beaconsfield

Beaconsfield, Benjamin Disraeli, (1st) Earl of, Viscount Hughenden of Hughenden, byname Dizzy (b. Dec. 21, 1804, London, England - d. April 19, 1881, London), British prime minister (1868, 1874-80). He was born into a Jewish family but was baptized at age 12 when his father left Judaism. In 1837, he entered Parliament as a Conservative. His maiden speech in the House of Commons was a failure, but before long, he became a speaker who commanded attention. The Conservative leader, Sir Robert Peel, encouraged Disraeli, but when in 1841 the Conservatives won the election and Peel became prime minister, Disraeli was not given office in the cabinet. His attitude toward Peel and his brand of Conservatism became increasingly critical. Disraeli consolidated the opposition to Peel in a series of brilliant speeches. Peel was forced to resign in 1846. When the Whig government fell in 1852 and the Earl of Derby, leader of the Conservative Party, formed a short-lived minority government, Disraeli was chancellor of the exchequer. In 1865 Derby formed his third minority government with Disraeli again as chancellor of the exchequer. In 1868 when Derby retired from politics, Disraeli became prime minister. The government was only a caretaker one, for the general election awaited only the completion of a new electoral register, and later in 1868 the Liberals won. The Conservatives won a resounding victory in 1874 and he became prime minister again. By 1876 his poor health had made leading the Commons onerous, so he accepted a peerage, taking the title Earl of Beaconsfield, and became leader in the House of Lords. He was also lord privy seal (1876-78). In 1878 Queen Victoria offered him a dukedom, which he refused, and the Order of the Garter, which he accepted. The Conservatives were heavily defeated in the general election of 1880.

Beadon, Sir Cecil (b. Dec. 22, 1816 - d. July 18, 1880, Latton, Wiltshire, England), lieutenant governor of Bengal (1862-67); knighted 1866.

Beadon, Henry Cecil (b. Nov. 28, 1869, India - d. July 4, 1959), chief commissioner of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1920-23).

Beahan, Michael (Eamon) (b. Jan. 21, 1937, London, England - d. Jan. 30, 2022, Melbourne, Vic.), Australian politician. He was president of the Senate (1994-96).

Beal Benedico, Josep Maria (b. June 9, 1942, Barcelona, Spain - d. Nov. 23, 2019, Escaldes-Engordany, Andorra), first syndic of Andorra (1990-91). He was also mayor of Escaldes-Engordany (1984-90).

Beale, Edward Fitzgerald, byname Ned Beale (b. Feb. 4, 1822, Washington, D.C. - d. April 22, 1893, Washington), U.S. diplomat. He was minister to Austria-Hungary (1876-77).

Beale, John Joseph (b. March 28, 1934), administrator of Ascension (1989-91).

Beale, Truxtun (b. March 6, 1856, San Francisco, Calif. - d. June 2, 1936, Annapolis, Md.), U.S. diplomat; son of Edward Fitzgerald Beale; son-in-law of James G. Blaine. He was minister resident to Persia (1891-92) and Greece (1892-93).

Beame

Beame, Abraham D(avid), original surname Birnbaum (b. March 20, 1906, London, England - d. Feb. 10, 2001, New York City), mayor of New York City (1974-78). He came to the United States in 1907. He held many posts in city government, including assistant budget director under Mayor William O'Dwyer, budget director under Mayor Vincent R. Impellitteri, and city comptroller in 1962. After an unsuccessful mayoral bid in 1965, he ran successfully for comptroller in 1969. He ran again for mayor in 1973, winning by almost 700,000 votes. He became the city's first Jewish mayor. He served through the darkest days of the city's 1975 fiscal crisis. It began when banks refused to buy city notes because the city could not provide enough information about uncollected real estate taxes. Before it was over, municipal job rolls, salaries, and services were cut and a mountain of debt was made manageable by a complex partnership of union pension funds, banks, and the state and federal governments. His administration will always be remembered as the time the bill came due for decades of profligate government. He spent his last years defending his reputation from those who said he was a bean-counter who couldn't count - a man who, as city budget director, comptroller, and finally as mayor, failed to prevent a fiscal catastrophe. In his own defense, he said he had warned for years against accounting gimmicks that hid the city's true financial condition and against using capital funds for day-to-day expenses. He said he cut 60,000 city jobs. At crunch time in 1975, he raised the transit fare from 35 to 50 cents, closed firehouses, and imposed tuition on what had been a free City University. Beame's hopes of a second term were dashed by his third-place finish, behind Ed Koch and Mario Cuomo, in a 6-candidate Democratic primary.

Beardsley, William S(hane) (b. May 17, 1901, Beacon, Iowa - d. [automobile accident] Nov. 21, 1954, north of Des Moines, Iowa), governor of Iowa (1949-54).

D.M. Beasley

Beasley, David M(uldrow) (b. Feb. 26, 1957, Lamar, S.C.), governor of South Carolina (1995-99). A Democrat turned Republican, Beasley was elected to the state House in 1978 at age 20 and served 14 years, rising to majority leader and becoming chairman of the Education and Public Works Committee. In 1992, he resigned to run for governor, with covert support (dictated by party decorum) from Gov. Carroll Campbell and open support from the Christian right. In the Republican primary, Beasley faced flamboyant Charleston Congressman Arthur Ravenel and former Congressman Tommy Hartnett. Beasley made no secret that he had a born-again religious experience in 1984, and got attention when a Democrat joked that he had two skills needed by a Republican, how to handle snakes and speak in tongues. But this was an asset in a state where 55% of Beasley's voters identified themselves as supporting his religious views. In a Republican primary, Beasley won 47% to 32% for Ravenel and 21% for Hartnett; among Democrats, Nick A. Theodore had 49.6% to 38% for Charleston Mayor Joe Riley, Jr. Beasley won his runoff 58%-42%, while Theodore finished only microscopically ahead of Riley in the Democratic runoff. The general election in November 1994 was a battle between the affable, mature Theodore and the fervent, young Beasley. Beasley won by a 50%-48% margin. Theodore carried 92% of blacks, Beasley 80% of the white religious right. In office, Beasley called for state term limits and unfunded mandate laws, property tax cuts, efforts to encourage small business job creation and encouragement of exports, a work requirement and two-year limit for welfare, and tougher prison sentences. In 1998 he was defeated for reelection by Democrat Jim Hodges. In 2017 he became executive director of the World Food Programme.

Beasley, Jere (Locke) (b. Dec. 12, 1935, Tyler, Texas), acting governor of Alabama (1972).

Beasley, John Albert (b. Nov. 9, 1895, Werribee, Vic. - d. Sept. 2, 1949, Sydney, N.S.W.), defence minister of Australia (1945-46). He was also minister of supply and development (1941-42) and supply and shipping (1942-45) and high commissioner to the United Kingdom (1946-49).

Beassoumal, Nadjita (Yonhombel), defense minister of Chad (1991-92). He was also minister of information (1990-91), posts (1992-93), and justice (1997-98).

Beath, Lance (Alexander) (d. Aug. 1, 2021), New Zealand representative in the Cook Islands (1985-87).

Beatrix

Beatrix (Wilhelmina Armgard) (b. Jan. 31, 1938, Soestdijk palace, Baarn, Utrecht province, Netherlands), queen of the Netherlands (1980-2013). She was the eldest of four daughters born to Princess (later Queen) Juliana and Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. When the Germans overran the Netherlands in World War II, the royal family in May 1940 took refuge in England. Princess Juliana and her daughters Beatrix and Irene then went to Ottawa. After the German surrender the family returned to the Netherlands in August 1945. When Juliana ascended the throne in 1948, Princess Beatrix received the title of heiress presumptive. From 1956 to 1961 she attended the State University of Leiden, studying mainly social sciences, law, and history. On June 28, 1965, Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard announced the engagement of Beatrix to a West German diplomat, Claus George Willem Otto Frederik Geert von Amsberg (b. Sept. 6, 1926, Dotzingen, northern Germany - d. Oct. 6, 2002, Amsterdam), causing a national furor because of his past membership in the Hitler Youth and the German army, even though he had been cleared by an Allied court. On March 10, 1966, they were married, and the hostility apparently dimmed with the births of Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand (April 27, 1967, Utrecht), Johan Friso Bernhard Christiaan David (Sept. 25, 1968, Utrecht), and Constantijn Christof Frederik Aschwin (Oct. 11, 1969, Utrecht), the first male heirs in the House of Orange since 1890. (Johan Friso was excluded from the succession due to a controversial marriage announced in 2003.) Beatrix ascended the throne in 1980 when Queen Juliana abdicated. She was particularly interested in sculpture, painting, ballet, and music and regularly visited exhibitions and attended performances. She abdicated after exactly 33 years on the throne.

Beattie, Alexander Elder (b. Jan. 25, 1888, Stirling, Scotland - d. April 14, 1951, Gibraltar), administrator of Saint Vincent (1941-44).

Beattie, Sir David Stuart (b. Feb. 29, 1924, Sydney, N.S.W. - d. Feb. 4, 2001, Wellington, N.Z.), governor-general of New Zealand (1980-85); knighted 1980.

P. Beattie

Beattie, Peter (Douglas) (b. Nov. 18, 1952, Sydney, N.S.W.), premier of Queensland (1998-2007).

Beatty

Beatty, (Henry) Perrin (b. June 1, 1950, Toronto, Ont.), Canadian solicitor general (1985-86, 1988-89) and minister of national revenue (1984-85), defense (1986-89), national health and welfare (1989-91), communications (1991-93), and external affairs and Francophonie (1993).

Beau, (Jean Baptiste) Paul (b. Jan. 25, 1857, Bordeaux, France - d. Feb. 14, 1927, Paris, France), governor-general of French Indochina (1902-08). He was also French minister to China (1901-02) and ambassador to Belgium (1909-11).

Beauchamp, Laurent Marie Émile (b. April 1, 1838, Orange, Vaucluse, France - d. March 26, 1901, Paris, France), governor of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon (1894-95) and Réunion (1896-1900). He was also mayor of Hanoi (1891-93).

Beauchamp, William Lygon, (7th) Earl (b. Feb. 20, 1872, London, England - d. Nov. 14, 1938, New York City), governor of New South Wales (1899-1901). He was also British lord president of the council (1910, 1914-15) and first commissioner of works (1910-14). He succeeded as earl in 1891.

Beaufort, Sir Leicester Paul (b. Dec. 13, 1853, Warburton, Cheshire, England - d. Aug. 12, 1926), governor of North Borneo (1895-1900) and acting administrator of North-Eastern Rhodesia (1909-11); knighted 1919. He was chief justice of Northern Rhodesia (1901-18).

Beaujon, Frederik J.C., byname Fredy Beaujon (b. 1906 - d. 1964), administrator of Aruba (1959-64).

Beaujon, Hendrik Johannes (b. April 18, 1870, Curaçao - d. ...), administrator of Aruba (1911-20); son of Jan Hendrik Rudeloff Beaujon.

Beaujon, Jan Jacob, byname Japa Beaujon (b. Jan. 30, 1921, Willemstad, Curaçao - d. Oct. 29, 1999, Willemstad), administrator of Sint Maarten (1959-68); son of Richard Johannes Beaujon, Jr.

Beaujon, Jan Hendrik Rudeloff (b. Nov. 18, 1838 - d. June 12, 1930), administrator of Aruba (1876-83).

Beaujon, Otto R(udolf) A(nthony), byname Rudy Beaujon (b. Nov. 6, 1915, Aruba - d. Nov. 12, 1984), prime minister of the Netherlands Antilles (1971-72); son of Hendrik Johannes Beaujon. He was also chairman of the Staten (1966-68) and minister of education and culture (1969-70, 1971) and health (1971).

Beaujon, Richard Johannes, Jr., byname Hensi Beaujon (b. June 30, 1883, Oranjestad, Aruba - d. Jan. 28, 1959, Willemstad, Curaçao), administrator of Bonaire (1921-23) and Sint Maarten (1923-27).

Beaulne, (Joseph Charles Léonard) Yvon (b. Feb. 22, 1919, Ottawa, Ont. - d. June 8, 1999, Hull [now part of Gatineau], Que.), Canadian diplomat. He was ambassador to Venezuela (1962-64), the Dominican Republic (1963-64), Brazil (1967-69), and the Vatican (1979-84) and permanent representative to the United Nations (1969-72).

C. Beaumont

Beaumont, Christopher (Michael) (b. Feb. 4, 1957, Reigate, Surrey, England), seigneur of Sark (2016- ); son of Michael Beaumont.

Beaumont, Guérin (Jean Michel du Boscq) de (b. Aug. 29, 1896, Airel, Manche, France - d. Oct. 13, 1955, Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France), justice minister of France (1954-55).

Beaumont, (John) Michael (b. Dec. 20, 1927 - d. July 3, 2016, Sark), seigneur of Sark (1974-2016); grandson of Dame Sibyl Hathaway.

Beauperthuy, Charles Daniel Esprit, mayor of Saint-Martin (1904-19).

Beauperthuy (Urich), Pedro Augusto (b. April 22, 1942, Cumaná, Sucre, Venezuela), governor of Monagas (1987-89). He was also Venezuelan education minister (1992-93).

Beaurepaire-Rohan, Henrique Pedro Carlos de Beaurepaire-Rohan, visconde de (b. May 12, 1812, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - d. July 10, 1894, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), president of Paraná (1855-56), Pará (1856-57), and Paraíba (1857-59) and war minister of Brazil (1864-65). He was made viscount in 1888.

Beauvais, Arnaud (Julie) (b. Sept. 6, 1783, Pointe Coupee parish, Louisiana - d. Nov. 18, 1843, New Orleans, La.), acting governor of Louisiana (1829-30).

Beauvoir, Vilfort, byname Ti Vilfort Beauvoir (b. Feb. 26, 1892, Port-au-Prince, Haiti - d. March 7, 1971, Port-au-Prince), foreign minister (1949-50, 1957-58) and member of the Executive Government Council (1957) of Haiti.

Beaux, Henri (Charles) (b. April 4, 1922, Milan, Italy - d. July 29, 2006, Grasse, Alpes-Maritimes, France), governor of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon (1971-74), high commissioner of the Comoros (1974-75), and administrator-superior of Wallis and Futuna (1976-79).

Beaver, James Addams (b. Oct. 21, 1837, Millerstown, Perry county, Pa. - d. Jan. 31, 1914, Bellefonte, Pa.), governor of Pennsylvania (1887-91).

L.L. Beavogui

M. Béavogui

Beavogui, Louis Lansana (b. Dec. 28, 1923, Macenta, French Guinea [now Guinea] - d. Aug. 19, 1984, Conakry, Guinea), foreign minister (1961-69), premier (1972-84), and interim president (1984) of Guinea. He was also minister of trade, industry, and mining of French Guinea (1957-58) and minister of economic affairs and planning (1958-61).

Béavogui, Mohamed (b. Aug. 15, 1953, Porédaka, French Guinea [now Guinea]), prime minister of Guinea (2021-22); nephew of Diallo Telli.

K. Beazley

Beazley, Kim (Christian) (b. Dec. 14, 1948, Perth, W.Aus.), Australian politician. The son of Kim Edward Beazley (who was a federal parliamentarian for more than 30 years representing the electorate of Fremantle and was minister for education from December 1973 to November 1975 in the Gough Whitlam government), he first entered parliament in 1980 when he won the Perth metropolitan seat of Swan in a general election. He held the seat of Swan in every subsequent election up to and including 1993, moving to the seat of Brand in 1996. His ministerial career began on March 11, 1983, in the first Bob Hawke government, when he became minister for aviation and minister assisting the minister for defence. He was the youngest member of the ministry at the time of his appointments. On Dec. 13, 1984, Beazley became the youngest ever Australian defence minister. He also served as special minister of state from July 14, 1983, to Jan. 21, 1984. On Feb. 15, 1988, he was appointed government leader in the House of Representatives and vice-president of the Executive Council. In April 1990, after a general election, he was appointed minister for transport and communications. He served as finance minister Dec. 9-27, 1991, before becoming minister for employment, education and training. He was reappointed to the finance portfolio in December 1993. On June 20, 1995, the Federal Labor Caucus elected Beazley deputy prime minister, a position he held until the federal election of 1996 which Labor lost. He became leader of the opposition and leader of the Labor Party on March 19, 1996. But he was criticized for being too nice to win government. Labor lost the 1998 and 2001 elections, and he resigned after the latter defeat. He returned to the leadership in 2005, but was challenged and defeated by Kevin Rudd in 2006. In 2010-16 he was ambassador to the United States and in 2018-22 governor of Western Australia.

M. Beazley

Beazley, Margaret (Joan) (b. July 23, 1951, Sydney, N.S.W.), governor of New South Wales (2019- ).

Bebb, William (b. Dec. 8, 1802, Paddy's Run, Butler county, Ohio - d. Oct. 23, 1873, Rockford, Ill.), governor of Ohio (1846-49).

Bebel

Bebel, August (Ferdinand) (b. Feb. 22, 1840, Deutz [now part of Cologne] - d. Aug. 13, 1913, Passugg, Graubünden, Switzerland), German politician. He joined the Leipzig Workers' Educational Association in 1861 and became its chairman in 1865. Wilhelm Liebknecht became in many respects Bebel's mentor. In 1867 Bebel entered the constituent Reichstag of the North German Confederation as a member for the Sächsische Volkspartei (Saxon People's Party). This and other like-minded parties united in 1869 in the Sozialdemokratische Arbeiterpartei (Social Democratic Labour Party) of Germany. Already in 1867, Bebel had protested against the Bismarckian "greater Prussia," believing that it meant "turning Germany into one great barracks." In parliament he continued this protest both before and after the founding of the German Empire. He and Liebknecht were the only voices to speak against the war loan voted in the Reichstag on July 21, 1870; as a result, they were brought to trial on a charge of high treason at Leipzig in March 1872. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment; beginning with an earlier sentence in 1869, Bebel spent a total of nearly five years in prison within less than 20 years, though he never faced any graver charge than that of "spreading doctrines dangerous to the state," "lèse-majesté," "libel of Bismarck," or "libel of the Bundesrat." His book Die Frau und der Sozialismus (1883; Woman and Socialism, 1904), was the most powerful piece of Social Democratic propaganda for decades. Bebel, a member of the Reichstag from 1867 almost continuously until his death, was able to keep the Social Democratic Party united at nearly all times and saw its representation increase to over 100 deputies.

Bebic, Luka (b. Aug. 21, 1937, Desni, near Metkovic, Yugoslavia [now in Croatia]), defense minister of Croatia (1991). He was president of the Sabor in 2008-11.

Beblawi

Beccari

Beblawi, Hazem (Abdelaziz) al-, Arabic Hazim `Abd al-`Aziz al-Bablawi (b. Oct. 17, 1936), finance minister (2011) and prime minister (2013-14) of Egypt.

Bebler, Ales (b. June 8, 1907, Idrija, Austria [now in Slovenia] - d. Aug. 12, 1981, Ljubljana, Slovenia), Yugoslav diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (1950-52) and ambassador to France (1955-57) and Indonesia (1961-63).

Beccari, Luca (b. Oct. 29, 1974, San Marino, San Marino), captain-regent (2014) and foreign minister (2020- ) of San Marino.

Becerra (Poveda), Delfín (b. Dec. 24, 1896, Capacho, Táchira, Venezuela - d. Dec. 31, 1967, Caracas, Venezuela), war and navy minister of Venezuela (1945).

Becerra de la Flor, Daniel (b. Jan. 23, 1906, Moquegua, Peru - d. May 1, 1987), prime minister of Peru (1965-67). He was also health minister (1965-67).

Bech, Gitte Lillelund (b. Jan. 21, 1969, Århus [now Aarhus], Denmark), defense minister of Denmark (2010-11).

J. Bech

Béchard

Bech, Joseph (b. Feb. 17, 1887, Diekirch, Luxembourg - d. March 8, 1975, Luxembourg, Luxembourg), interior minister (1921-25, 1938-45), prime minister (1926-37, 1953-58), foreign minister (1926-59), and defense minister (1951-53) of Luxembourg. He was also minister of justice (1923-25) and agriculture (1926-37, 1953-54) and president of the Chamber of Deputies (1959-64).

Bech, Victor Marius (b. March 16, 1891, Toulon, Var, France - d. May 22, 1979, Clamart, Hauts-de-Seine, France), acting governor-general of Madagascar (1942-43).

Béchard, Paul (Léon Albin) (b. Dec. 25, 1899, Alès, Gard, France - d. April 26, 1982, Montpellier, Hérault, France), governor-general of French West Africa (1948-51).

Béchio, Jean-Jacques (b. Aug. 22, 1949, Grand-Bassam, Ivory Coast [now Côte d'Ivoire] - d. Feb. 11/12, 2018, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire), Ivorian politician. He was minister of civil service (1983-90) and permanent representative to the United Nations (1990-92).

Béchir

Béchir, Mohamed Salem Ould (b. Dec. 17, 1962, Aioun El Atrouss, Mauritania), prime minister of Mauritania (2018-19). He was also minister of water and sanitation (2013-15) and petroleum, energy, and mines (2015-16).

Béchoff, Roland (Luc) (b. July 28, 1906, Paris, France - d. January 2006), prefect of Réunion (1950-52). He was also prefect of the départements of Haute-Loire (1945), Orne (1946-50), Savoie (1953-57), and Loir-et-Cher (1957).

Bechvaya, Kirill (Georgiyevich) (b. 1903, Didichkoni, Kutaisi province, Russia [now in Georgia] - d. May 1974, Georgian S.S.R.), first secretary of the Communist Party committees of the Abkhaz A.S.S.R. (1937-40) and the Adzhar A.S.S.R. (1944-52). He was also people's commissar of forest industry of the Georgian S.S.R. (1940) and first secretary of the party committee of Poti city (1943-44).

Becic, Aleksa (b. Aug. 4, 1987, Cetinje, Montenegro), a deputy prime minister of Montenegro (2023- ). He was also president of the Skupstina (2020-22) and a presidential candidate (2023).

Becirovic, Denis (b. Nov. 28, 1975, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina), chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2024- ).

Beck, Collin D(avid) (b. June 23, 1964), Solomon Islands diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (2003-16), ambassador to the United States (2004-16), and high commissioner to Australia (2016-18).

J. Beck

Beck, Józef (b. Oct. 4, 1894, Warsaw, Poland, Russian Empire - d. June 6, 1944, Stanesti, Romania), foreign minister of Poland (1932-39). He joined Józef Pilsudski's legion in the Austrian service in World War I and fought for the Central Powers against tsarist Russia. When Pilsudski disbanded his legion in anger over the abuse of Polish territory by the Austrian and German authorities, he joined the POW, a secret group. After the Russian Revolution this society organized the Poles against Prussia and Austria. In 1918 he was sent to Russia, where, using an assumed name, he posed as a captured Austrian officer and was placed in charge of a Red Army regiment containing many Poles. During his short tenure he issued many passes enabling the Poles to escape and was himself on the way back to Poland when the secret police unmasked his activities. He reached Poland safely and Pilsudski, hearing of his exploits, named him his personal aide. In 1922 he became military attaché to the Polish legation in Paris, but within a year he was obliged to return to Poland by the advent to power of an anti-Pilsudski government. He returned to power in 1926 when he became Pilsudski's chef de cabinet in the Ministry of War. He was elevated to vice premier in 1930 and became foreign minister on Nov. 2, 1932. He attempted to maintain a non-threatening attitude toward both the Soviet Union and Germany while strengthening alliances of Poland with France and with Romania. After the Germans invaded Czechoslovakia in March 1939, Beck gained the disputed Teschen area for his country and on April 6 signed the alliance with Great Britain that was to bring Britain into World War II after the Germans invaded Poland in September of that same year. Beck then left Poland and spent the remainder of his days in Romania.

Beck, Kurt (b. Feb. 5, 1949, Bad Bergzabern, Germany), minister-president of Rheinland-Pfalz (1994-2013). He was chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Germany in 2006-08.

Beck, Max Wladimir Freiherr von (baron of) (b. Sept. 6, 1854, Vienna, Austria - d. Jan. 20, 1943, Vienna), prime minister of Austria (1906-08). He was also president of the Austrian Red Cross (1919-38).

Beck, Stuart (Jay) (b. Dec. 23, 1946, Manhattan, New York City - d. Feb. 29, 2016, Manhattan), Palauan diplomat. He was permanent representative to the United Nations (2004-13).

Beck-Friis, Joakim greve (b. July 18, 1722 - d. Aug. 3, 1797, Börringe, Malmöhus [now in Skåne], Sweden), governor of Kronoberg (1763-69). He became friherre (baron) in 1770 and greve (count) in 1771.

Beck-Friis, Johan friherre (b. Aug. 28, 1729 - d. Nov. 23, 1796, Göteborg, Sweden), governor of Kopparberg (1781-90) and Göteborg och Bohus (1790-96); brother of Joakim greve Beck-Friis. He was made friherre (baron) in 1770.

Becka, Bohdan (b. April 14, 1863, Neweklau, Austria [now Neveklov, Czech Republic] - d. July 26, 1940, Prague, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic]), finance minister of Czechoslovakia (1923-25).

Becker, George F(rederick) (b. Oct. 20, 1928, Granite City, Ill. - d. Feb. 3, 2007, Gibsonia, Pa.), president of the United Steelworkers of America (1994-2001).

Beckett

Beckett, Dame Margaret (Mary), née Jackson (b. Jan. 15, 1943, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England), British foreign secretary (2006-07). A member of Parliament in 1974-79 and since 1983, she was deputy leader of the Labour Party in 1992-94 and acting leader in May-July 1994 after the death of John Smith. She was trade and industry secretary (1997-98) and lord president of the council and leader of the House of Commons (1998-2001) before becoming secretary of state for the newly formed Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (2001-06). She then became Britain's first female foreign secretary, but was dropped from the cabinet when Gordon Brown became prime minister in 2007. She was knighted in 2012.

Beckham, J(ohn) C(repps) W(ickliffe) (b. Aug. 5, 1869, Bardstown, Ky. - d. Jan. 9, 1940, Louisville, Ky.), governor of Kentucky (1900-07); nephew of Robert C. Wickliffe; grandson of Charles A. Wickliffe.

Beckingham

Beckstein

Bédaya-Ngaro

Beckingham, Peter (b. March 16, 1949, Essex, England), governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands (2013-16). He was British ambassador to the Philippines in 2005-09.

Beckles(-Robinson), Pennelope (Althea) (b. Sept. 12, 1961, Borde Narve Village, Trinidad and Tobago), Trinidad and Tobago politician. She was minister of health, social development, community development, culture, and gender affairs (2001-02), culture and tourism (2002-03), and public utilities and environment (2003-07) and permanent representative to the United Nations (2016-21).

Beckstein, Günther (b. Nov. 23, 1943, Hersbruck, Germany), minister-president of Bayern (2007-08).

Bécu, Gaston (Marius) (b. 18... - d. 1945, Cannes, France), resident of Wallis and Futuna (1921-24).

Beczkowicz, Zygmunt (Kazimierz) (b. Jan. 20, 1887, Lukowica, Poland - d. May 2, 1985, Gdynia, Poland), governor of Nowogródzkie (1926-31) and Wilenskie (1931-33) województwa. He was also Polish minister to Latvia (1933-35).

Bédaya-Ngaro, Simon (b. May 28, 1936, Bedaya 1, near Paoua, northwestern Oubangui-Chari [now Central African Republic] - d. Jan. 29, 2006, Lyon, France), foreign minister of the Central African Republic (1980-81, 1993-96). He was also minister of public health (1979) and diplomatic adviser of the president (1996-2003).

Bedford, Sir Frederick George Denham (b. Dec. 28, 1838 - d. Jan. 30, 1913, Weybridge, Surrey, England), governor of Western Australia (1903-09); knighted 1895.

Bedford, Gunning (b. April 7, 1742, New Castle Hundred, Delaware - d. Sept. 30, 1797, New Castle, Del.), governor of Delaware (1796-97); brother-in-law of George Read.

Bedford, John Russell, (4th) Duke of (b. Sept. 30, 1710, Streatham, Surrey, England - d. Jan. 15, 1771, London, England), lord lieutenant of Ireland (1757-61). He was also first lord of the Admiralty (1744-48), secretary of state for the Southern Department (1748-51), lord privy seal (1761-63), and lord president of the council (1763-65).

Bedford, John Russell, (6th) Duke of (b. Sept. 30, 1766, London, England - d. Oct. 20, 1839, Rothiemurchus, Inverness, Scotland), lord lieutenant of Ireland (1806-07); grandson of John Russell, (4th) Duke of Bedford, and William Anne Keppel, Earl of Albemarle.

Bedi

Bedi, Kiran (b. June 9, 1949, Amritsar, Punjab, India), lieutenant governor of Puducherry (2016-21).

Bédié

Bédié, (Aimé) Henri Konan (b. May 5, 1934, Dadiékro, Daoukro département, Ivory Coast [now Côte d'Ivoire] - d. Aug. 1, 2023, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire), president of Côte d'Ivoire (1993-99). He was ambassador to the United States (1961-66) and Canada (1963-66), economy and finance minister (1966-77), and president of the National Assembly (1980-93) and by virtue of the latter position succeeded Pres. Félix Houphouët-Boigny after his death. He is from the Baoule ethnic group to which Houphouët-Boigny belonged and which had dominated Ivory Coast's politics since independence from France in 1960. He continued the successful economic policies of his predecessor, but took a hardline approach towards an increasingly restive opposition. On the eve of the 1995 elections, he ordered riot police to suppress all protesters. He further strengthened his political dominance by having the National Assembly pass strict residency laws stipulating that presidential candidates must have two parents who are citizens of Côte d'Ivoire. His leading rival, Alassane Ouattara, was thus rendered ineligible. In light of these machinations, the opposition largely boycotted the elections, which Bédié won resoundingly. In 1998 he had the assembly pass a law extending his term in office from five to seven years and also allowing him to postpone future elections if political instability threatened. Deposed in a 1999 coup, he fled to Togo on December 26 and then to France on Jan. 3, 2000. He briefly came back on Oct. 15, 2001, to take part in a national reconciliation forum but left after its end. He returned from his exile on Sept. 11, 2005, to organize his presidential campaign. The elections were due in October but later postponed to 2006 and ultimately only held in 2010; Bédié finished third. He was again a candidate in 2020 but received only 2% of the vote after joining an opposition boycott of the election.

Bédier (de Prairie), (Philippe Marie) Achille (b. Dec. 25, 1791, Saint-Denis, Île Bourbon [now Réunion] - d. 1865), governor of French India (1851-52).

Bedjaoui

Bedjaoui, Mohammed, Arabic Muhammad Bijawi (b. Sept. 21, 1929, Sidi-bel-Abbès, Algeria), foreign minister of Algeria (2005-07). He was formerly justice minister (1964-70), ambassador to France (1970-79), permanent representative to the United Nations (1979-82), a judge (1982-2001) and president (1994-97) of the International Court of Justice, and president of the Constitutional Council (2002-05).

Bedle, Joseph D(orsett) (b. Jan. 5, 1831, Middletown Point [now Matawan], N.J. - d. Oct. 21, 1894, New York City), governor of New Jersey (1875-78).

Bedoui

Bedoui, Noureddine (b. Dec. 22, 1959, Ain Taya, Alger wilaya, Algeria), interior minister (2015-19) and prime minister (2019) of Algeria. He was also wali of Sidi Bel Abbès (1996-2000), Bordj Bou Arreridj (2000-04), Sétif (2004-10), and Constantine (2010-13) and minister of vocational training and professional education (2013-15).

Bedoya (Pizarro), Harold (b. Dec. 30, 1938, Cali, Colombia - d. May 2, 2017, Bogotá, Colombia), Colombian presidential candidate (1998, 2002). He was also commander of the army (1994-96) and of the armed forces (1996-97).

Bedoya Reyes, Luis (b. Feb. 20, 1919, Callao, Peru - d. March 18, 2021, Lima, Peru), Peruvian politician. He was justice minister (1963), mayor of Lima (1964-69), and a presidential candidate (1980, 1985). He founded the Popular Christian Party in 1966.

Bedregal Gutiérrez, Guillermo (b. Oct. 16, 1926, La Paz, Bolivia - d. Sept. 21, 2018, La Paz), foreign minister of Bolivia (1979, 1986-89). He was also minister of planning (1985-86), president of the Chamber of Deputies (1993-94, 1995-96), and ambassador to Spain (2002-05).

Bedregal Rodo, Luis (b. Aug. 4, 1917, La Paz, Bolivia), finance minister of Bolivia (1972-73). He was also president of the Central Bank (1972).

Bee, Barnard E(lliott) (b. 1787, Charleston, S.C. - d. April 10, 1853, Pendleton, S.C.), secretary of state of the Republic of Texas (1838-39); brother-in-law of James Hamilton, Jr. He was also secretary of the treasury (1836) and war (1837-38) and minister to the United States (1840-41).

Beebe, George M(onroe) (b. Oct. 28, 1836, New Vernon, N.Y. - d. March 1, 1927, Ellenville, N.Y.), acting governor of Kansas (1860-61).

Beebe, Mike, byname of Michael Dale Beebe (b. Dec. 28, 1946, Amagon, Ark.), governor of Arkansas (2007-15).

Beeck Vollenhoven, Hendrik van (b. March 7, 1811, Amsterdam, France [now in Netherlands] - d. Aug. 1, 1871, Amsterdam), Dutch politician. He was chairman of the First Chamber (1870-71).

Beeckman, R(obert) Livingston (b. April 15, 1866, New York City - d. Jan. 21, 1935, Santa Barbara, Calif.), governor of Rhode Island (1915-21).

Beeckman de Libersart, Maximilien (Henri Ghislain) baron de (b. Jan. 31, 1781, Leuven, Austrian Netherlands [now Belgium] - d. Oct. 8, 1834, Aachen, Prussia [now in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany]), governor of Hainaut (1826-28) and Limburg (1828-31).

Beek, Relus ter, byname of Aurelus Louis ter Beek (b. Jan. 18, 1944, Coevorden, Drenthe, Netherlands - d. Sept. 29, 2008, Assen, Drenthe), defense minister of the Netherlands (1989-94) and queen's commissioner of Drenthe (1995-2008).

Beek, Willibrord(us Ildefonsus Ignatius) van (b. Jan. 15, 1949, Amsterdam, Netherlands), king's commissioner of Utrecht (2013-19).

Beel

Beel, Louis (Joseph Maria) (b. April 12, 1902, Roermond, Limburg, Netherlands - d. Feb. 11, 1977, Utrecht, Netherlands), prime minister of the Netherlands (1946-48, 1958-59) and high commissioner of Indonesia (1948-49). He was also minister of interior (1945-47, 1951-56), social work (1952), justice (acting, 1956), and social affairs and health (acting, 1958-59) and deputy prime minister (1952-56).

Beelaerts van Blokland, Frans (b. Jan. 21, 1872, The Hague, Netherlands - d. March 27, 1956, The Hague), foreign minister of the Netherlands (1927-33); son of Gerard Jacob Theodoor Beelaerts van Blokland. He was also minister to China (1909-18).

Beelaerts van Blokland, Gerard (b. July 5, 1772, Dordrecht, Netherlands - d. Feb. 25, 1844, The Hague, Netherlands), finance minister of the Netherlands (1837-40).

Beelaerts van Blokland, Gerard (b. May 2, 1908, The Hague, Netherlands - d. April 30, 1997, The Hague), Dutch diplomat; son of Frans Beelaerts van Blokland. He was ambassador to Peru (1956-59), India (1960-65), and the Soviet Union (1965-70).

Beelaerts van Blokland, Gerard Jacob Theodoor (b. Jan. 12, 1843, Rotterdam, Netherlands - d. March 14, 1897, The Hague, Netherlands), Dutch politician; grandson of Gerard Beelaerts van Blokland (1772-1844). He was chairman of the Second Chamber (1888-91). In 1890-97 he was also the South African Republic's minister to European countries other than the United Kingdom.

Beelaerts van Blokland, Johan Anthony (b. April 13, 1924, The Hague, Netherlands - d. Oct. 3, 2007, Wijnbergen, Gelderland, Netherlands), Dutch diplomat; nephew of Frans Beelaerts van Blokland. He was ambassador to the Vatican (1983-86).

Beelaerts van Blokland, Matthias Adriaan (b. Aug. 3, 1910, Beidaihe, Hebei, China - d. Oct. 14, 1990, The Hague, Netherlands), Dutch diplomat; son of Frans Beelaerts van Blokland; brother of Gerard Beelaerts van Blokland (1908-1997). He was ambassador to Zambia, Malawi, and Botswana (1966-75).

Beelaerts van Blokland, Pieter (Adriaan Cornelis) (b. Dec. 8, 1932, Heerjansdam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands - d. Sept. 22, 2021, Utrecht, Netherlands), queen's commissioner of Utrecht (1985-98); second cousin of Frans Beelaerts van Blokland. He was also mayor of Amstelveen (1971-77), Apeldoorn (1981-85), and Hengelo (acting, 1999-2000) and Dutch minister of housing and regional planning (1977-81).

Beer

Beer, Charles (b. Nov. 13, 1961, Geneva, Switzerland), president of the Council of State of Genève (2006-07, 2012-13).

Beerman, Albert Christiaan Willem (b. Jan. 29, 1901, Amsterdam, Netherlands - d. Nov. 26, 1967, Rotterdam, Netherlands), justice minister of the Netherlands (1959-63).

Beernaert

Beernaert, Auguste (Marie François) (b. July 26, 1829, Ostend, Belgium - d. Oct. 6, 1912, Luzern, Switzerland), prime minister (1884-94) and acting foreign minister (1892) of Belgium. He was elected to the Belgian Chamber of Deputies in 1873 and became minister of public works in Jules Malou's conservative Catholic cabinet. In the next five years he proved to be an able and energetic administrator. He improved the country's rail, canal, and road systems, established new port facilities at Ostend and Antwerp, and beautified the capital, but he failed in his attempt to end child labour in the mines. In June 1874 he lost a contest for a seat in the Senate but three months later won an election in the West Flanders town of Thielt, a constituency which reelected him until his death. When the Catholic Party, defeated in 1878, was returned to power in 1884, Beernaert was named minister of agriculture, industry, and public works in the new cabinet. Four months later, after some resignations from the cabinet, King Leopold II entrusted Beernaert with the direction of the government. For the next ten years he was prime minister and minister of finance. Under his administration the constitution of 1831 was revised, the right of suffrage being granted to ten times the number of citizens who had formerly enjoyed it. On another constitutional question, that of proportional representation, the cabinet fell in 1894. In 1895-1900 he was president of the Chamber of Deputies. He held the post of president of the International Law Association from 1903 to 1905. One of Belgium's leading pacifists, he was Belgium's first representative at the Hague peace conferences of 1899 and 1907. In 1909, when he was 80 years old, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (jointly with Paul-H.-B. d'Estournelles de Constant).

Beetham, Sir Edward (Betham) (b. Feb. 19, 1905 - d. Feb. 19, 1979), resident commissioner of Swaziland (1946-50) and Bechuanaland (1950-53) and governor of the Windward Islands (1953-55) and Trinidad and Tobago (1955-60); knighted 1955.

Beevi, Fathima (b. April 30, 1927, Pathanamthitta, Travancore [now in Kerala], India - d. Nov. 23, 2023, Kollam, Kerala), governor of Tamil Nadu (1997-2001). She was the first female judge of the Supreme Court of India (1989-92).

Beffre

Beffre, Lionel (b. Jan. 20, 1964, Decazeville, Aveyron, France), high commissioner of French Polynesia (2013-16). He was also prefect of the French départements of Lot-et-Garonne (2007-10), Eure-et-Loir (2010-12), Pyrénées-Atlantiques (2012-13), Isère (2016-21), and Seine-et-Marne (2021-23).

Befring, Ottar (b. Nov. 19, 1939, Jølster, Sogn og Fjordane [now in Vestland], Norway - d. Oct. 9, 2023), governor of Møre og Romsdal (2002-09).

Begaj

Begaj, Bajram (b. March 20, 1967, Rrogozhinë, Albania), president of Albania (2022- ). He was also chief of general staff of the armed forces (2020-22).

Begenjev, Gurbandurdy (b. 1956, Mary oblast, Turkmen S.S.R. [now Mary velayat, Turkmenistan]), defense minister of Turkmenistan (2001-02).

Begerem, Victor (Charles Marie) (b. Feb. 25, 1853, Ypres, Belgium - d. Dec. 20, 1934, Ghent, Belgium), justice minister of Belgium (1894-99).

Begg, Sir Varyl (Cargill) (b. Oct. 1, 1908, London, England - d. July 13, 1995), governor of Gibraltar (1969-73); knighted 1962.

Begichev, Mikhail (Lvovich) (b. 1797 - d. Oct. 12, 1866), governor of Vilna (1846-51).

B. Begin

Begin, Benny, byname of Ze'ev Binyamin Begin (b. March 1, 1943, Jerusalem), Israeli politician; son of Menachem Begin. He became the champion of Israel's ultranationalist right wing. He believed no peace with Palestinian president Yasir Arafat was possible and that Arafat's real intention was to destroy the Jewish state. Viewed as the Likud party's chief ideologue, he spoke in the courtly cadences of his father. In 1996-97 he was science minister. He broke away from Likud to mount his own challenge to Benjamin Netanyahu in 1999. He headed a bloc of hawks sworn to stop territorial concessions to the Palestinians. Begin saw few differences between Netanyahu and his centre-left rivals, saying all are willing to surrender land while pledging peace with security. While he knew he would most likely be knocked out of the race for prime minister (and he withdrew before the first round), he expected his rightist faction winning upwards of 10 seats in the 120-member parliament; when it only won 3, he said he would quit politics. Begin was regarded by friend and foe as courteous and as principled as he is ideologically rigid. Returning to Likud in 2008, he became a minister without portfolio (2009-13, 2015). He joined the New Hope party in 2021, but left politics again in 2022.

Begin, Charles Auguste Frédéric (b. July 2, 1835, Marie-Galante island, Guadeloupe - d. July 27, 1901, Pleumeur-Bodou, Côtes-du-Nord [now Côtes-d'Armor], France), governor of Cochinchina (1885-86).

M. Begin

Begin, Menachem (Wolfovitch) (b. Aug. 16, 1913, Brest-Litovsk, Russia [now Brest, Belarus] - d. March 9, 1992, Tel Aviv, Israel), prime minister of Israel (1977-83). He was active in the Zionist movement throughout the 1930s and in 1938 became the leader of the Polish branch of the Betar youth movement, dedicated to the establishment of a Jewish state on both sides of the Jordan River. When the Germans invaded Warsaw in 1939, he escaped to Vilnius. The Soviet authorities deported Begin to Siberia in 1940, but in 1941 he was released and joined the Polish army in exile, with which he went to Palestine in 1942. He joined the militant Irgun Zvai Leumi and was its commander in 1943-48, directing among other things the bombing of the King David Hotel in 1946, which killed 91 people. After Israel's independence in 1948 the Irgun formed the Herut ("Freedom") Party with Begin as its head and opposition leader in the Knesset until 1967. Begin joined the National Unity government (1967-70) as a minister without portfolio and in 1970 became joint chairman of the Likud ("Unity") coalition. On May 17, 1977, the Likud Party won elections and on June 21 Begin formed a government. Prodded by U.S. president Jimmy Carter, Begin negotiated with Pres. Anwar as-Sadat of Egypt for peace in the Middle East, and a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt was signed on March 26, 1979. Begin and Sadat were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1978. In the early 1980s, his opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state remained resolute. His party failed to win a clear majority in a general election in 1981, but he was able to form a coalition. Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon, causing well-publicized civilian casualties, turned world opinion against Israel. Begin resigned in 1983.

Beglaryan, Artak (Artemovich) (b. July 5, 1988, Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous oblast, Azerbaijan S.S.R.), minister of state of Artsakh (2021-22).

Begliyev, Ashirguly, Turkmen Asyrguly Begliýew, a deputy prime minister of Turkmenistan (2023). He was also chairman of Turkmengaz State Concern (2015-17).

Beglov

Beglov, Aleksandr (Dmitriyevich) (b. May 19, 1956, Baku, Azerbaijan S.S.R.), governor of Saint Petersburg (2003 [acting], 2018- ) and plenipotentiary of the president in Tsentralny (2012-17) and Severo-Zapadny (2017-18) federal districts.

Begmatova, Sakin (Begmatovna) (b. Aug. 21, 1921, Koi-Tash village, Russia [now in Kyrgyzstan] - d. [car accident] June 28, 1981), foreign minister of the Kirgiz S.S.R. (1963-80). She was also a deputy premier (1961-80).

Begole, Josiah W(illiams) (b. Jan. 20, 1815, Livingston county, N.Y. - d. June 6, 1896, Flint, Mich.), governor of Michigan (1883-85).

Begovic, Alija (b. Oct. 31, 1953, Gorazde [now in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina]), governor of Bosnian Podrinje (2000-01).

Béguin, Jacques (b. March 26, 1922, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Neuchâtel, Switzerland - d. Nov. 23, 2007, La Chaux-de-Fonds), president of the Council of State of Neuchâtel (1971-72, 1976-77, 1980-81, 1983-84).

T. Béguin

Béguin, Thierry (b. Dec. 2, 1947, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Neuchâtel), president of the Council of State of Neuchâtel (2000-01, 2003-04).

Béhague, Jean Pierre Antoine, comte de (b. Nov. 23, 1727, Calais, France - d. May 11, 1813, London, England), governor of Martinique (1791-92).

Beheiry, Mamoun (Ahmed Abdel Wahab) (b. Oct. 3, 1925, Um Ruaba, western Sudan - d. Sept. 5?, 2002, Khartoum, Sudan), finance minister of The Sudan (1963-64, 1975-77) and president of the African Development Bank (1964-70). He was also governor of the Central Bank of Sudan (1958-63).

Beheshti, Ayatollah Mohammad (Hosseini) (b. Oct. 24, 1928, Isfahan, Iran - d. June 28, 1981, Tehran), Iranian politician. In the 1960s he served as a mullah to Iranian Muslim students in West Germany. A member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Council given power on Feb. 3, 1979, by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini shortly after his return from France, Beheshti soon became the council's "first secretary." In the Majlis (parliament) inaugurated on May 28, 1980, he led the Islamic Republican Party (IRP), the religiously oriented party which, with its supporters, formed the most important and most cohesive group in that body. Since Hashemi Rafsanjani, the speaker of the Majlis, was effectively the number two man in the IRP, Beheshti had no serious difficulty defeating his rivals. Reputed to be a cunning manipulator behind the scenes, he was a good public speaker and behaved in a magisterial manner when dealing with both equals and subordinates. He played a leading part in the U.S. hostage crisis and was instrumental in the dismissal in June 1981 of Abolhassan Bani-Sadr, first president of the Islamic Republic. Beheshti was killed in an explosion at the party headquarters together with 71 other participants during a meeting.

Behmen

Behmen, Alija (b. Dec. 25, 1940, Split, Croatia - d. July 31, 2018, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina), prime minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2001-03). He was also mayor of Sarajevo (2009-13).

Behnia, Abdolhossein (b. March 10, 1907 - d. ...), finance minister of Iran (1961-62, 1962, 1963-64). He was also minister of roads (1961).

Behounek

Beiba

Behounek, Jirí (b. May 13, 1952, Prague, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic]), governor of Vysocina kraj (2008-20).

Behrendt, Walter (b. Sept. 18, 1914, Dortmund, Germany - d. July 23, 1997), president of the European Parliament (1971-73).

Beiba, Mahfoud Ali (Arabic Mahfud `Ali Bayba), also known as Mahfoud Ali al-Arusi (Mahfud `Ali al-`Arusi) (b. 1953, Saguia el Hamra region, Spanish West Africa [now Western Sahara] - d. July 2, 2010, February 27 camp, southwest Algeria), acting chairman of the Revolutionary Council (1976) and prime minister (1982-85, 1988-93, 1995-99) of the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic. He was also minister of health (1993-95) and occupied territories and emigration (1999-2003) and president of the Sahrawi National Council (2003-10).

Beichmann, Fredrik (Valdemar Nikolai) (b. June 14, 1924, Tromøy, Aust-Agder [now part of Arendal, Agder], Norway - d. 2002), governor of Svalbard (1970-74).

Beidari, Mamadou, finance minister of Niger (1987-88). He was also minister of public and semi-public companies (1984-85) and civil service and labour (1985-87) and ambassador to Cameroon (1989-92).

Beilin

Beilin, Yossi, byname of Yosef Beilin (b. June 12, 1948, Petah Tikva, Israel), Israeli politician. He became a member of parliament in 1988 and served as deputy finance minister in 1988-90, minister of economy and planning in 1995, minister without portfolio in 1995-96, and justice minister in 1999-2001. An architect of the Oslo peace accords with the Palestinians, Beilin was an outspoken critic of Israel's military presence in south Lebanon and called for a unilateral troop withdrawal from the Jewish state's self-declared security zone there; this was effected in 2000. He was also the architect (with former Palestinian minister Yasser Abed Rabbo) of the "Geneva Accord," an alternative peace plan signed on Dec. 1, 2003.

Beingolea (Balarezo), Antonio (b. May 9, 1881, Lima, Peru - d. July 31, 1950, Lima), prime minister and interior and police minister (1930-31) and war minister (1932-33) of Peru.

Beirão, Francisco António de Veiga (b. July 24, 1841, Lisbon, Portugal - d. Nov. 11, 1916, Paço de Arcos parish, Oeiras municipality [now part of Lisbon Metropolitan Area], Portugal), prime minister of Portugal (1909-10). He was also minister of justice (1886-90, 1897-98, 1910) and foreign affairs (1898-1900).

Béjar

Béjar Rivera, Héctor (b. Sept. 2, 1935, Ricardo Palma district, Huarochirí province, Lima department [now region], Peru), foreign minister of Peru (2021).

Bejarano (Valadez), Armando León (b. April 11, 1916, Cuautla, Morelos, Mexico - d. July 6, 2016, Cuernavaca, Morelos), governor of Morelos (1976-82).

Bejinariu, Eugen (b. Jan. 28, 1959, Suceava, Romania), interim prime minister of Romania (2004). He was also minister-coordinator of the General Secretariat of the Government (2003-04).

Bejzat, Mugbil (b. Sept. 21, 1932, Stip, Yugoslavia [now in North Macedonia]), justice minister of Yugoslavia (1971-74).

Bekata, Hifzi Oguz, before 1935 Hifzi Oguz Bey (b. March 17, 1911, Angora, Ottoman Empire [now Ankara, Turkey] - d. Sept. 1, 1995, Istanbul, Turkey), interior minister of Turkey (1962-63).

Békesi, László (b. May 31, 1942, Györ, Hungary), finance minister of Hungary (1989-90, 1994-95).

Beketov, Nikita (Afanasyevich) (b. Sept. 19 [Sept. 8, O.S.], 1729 - d. July 20 [July 9, O.S.], 1794), governor of Astrakhan (1763-73).

Bekkai, M'barek (Ben Mustapha El), also called Si Bekkai (b. April 18, 1907, Berkane, Morocco - d. April 12, 1961, Rabat, Morocco), prime minister (1955-58) and interior minister (1960-61) of Morocco.

Bekleshov, Aleksandr (Andreyevich) (b. March 12 [March 1, O.S.], 1743 or 1745 - d. Aug. 5 [July 24, O.S.], 1808, Riga, Russia [now in Latvia]), governor of Riga (1783-90), governor-general of Oryol and Kursk (1790-96), and military governor of Kiev (1798-99) and Moscow (1804-06). He was also prosecutor-general of Russia (1799-1800, 1801-02).

Bekmuradov, Orazmurad, economy and finance minister of Turkmenistan (2000-01). He was also a deputy prime minister (2000-01) and minister of social security (2001-05).

Beknazarov, Soibnazar (b. 1934, Vozm, Gorny Badakhshan, Tadzhik S.S.R.), first secretary of the Communist Party committee of Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous oblast (1987-91). Earlier he was first secretary of the party committee of Khorog city.

Bekov, Sergey (Mazhitovich) (b. 1939), chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Chechen-Ingush A.S.S.R. (1990-91).

Bekoyev

Bekoyev, Gennady (Borisovich) (b. Aug. 26, 1981, Tskhinvali, South Ossetian autonomous oblast, Georgian S.S.R.), prime minister of South Ossetia (2020-22). He became deputy prime minister and minister of economic development in 2018.

Bektanov, Murat (Karibayevich) (b. Sept. 18, 1965, Sokolov, Severo-Kazakhstan oblast, Kazakh S.S.R.), defense minister of Kazakhstan (2021-22). He was also commander-in-chief of land forces (2016-19) and chief of the General Staff (2019-21).

Bektemisov, Amangeldy (Imanakyshevich) (b. Feb. 16, 1945, Kirovsky, Taldy-Kurgan oblast, Kazakh S.S.R. [now Balpyk Bi, Almaty oblast, Kazakhstan] - d. Feb. 16, 2001), head of Vostochno-Kazakhstan oblast (1992-94).

Bektenov, Olzhas (Abayevich) (b. Dec. 13, 1980, Alma-Ata, Kazakh S.S.R. [now Almaty, Kazakhstan]), prime minister of Kazakhstan (2024- ). He was also chairman of the Anti-Corruption Agency (2022-23) and head of the administration of the president (2023-24).

Bekteshi, Besnik (b. Aug. 11, 1941), Albanian politician. He was a deputy premier (1982-89) and minister of industry and mining (1989-91) and energy (acting, 1989).

Bekzadyan, Aleksandr (Artemyevich) (b. 1879, Shusha, Yelizavetpol province, Russia [now in Artsakh, Azerbaijan] - d. [executed] Aug. 15, 1938), people's commissar of foreign affairs of the Armenian S.S.R. (1920-21). He was also people's commissar of trade of the Transcaucasian S.F.S.R. (1926-30) and Soviet ambassador to Norway (1931-34) and Hungary (1934-37).

Belaiz, Tayeb (b. Aug. 21, 1948, Maghnia, Algeria - d. May 13, 2023, Oran, Algeria), interior minister of Algeria (2013-15). He was also minister of employment and national solidarity (2002-03) and justice (2003-12) and president of the Constitutional Council (2012-13, 2019).

Belaúnde (Ruiz de Somocurcio), Javier de (b. May 18, 1909, Arequipa, Peru - d. June 24, 2013, Lima, Peru), justice minister of Peru (1966-67).

Belaúnde (de la Torre), Mariano (Ignacio) A(ndrés) (b. Nov. 30, 1849, Arequipa, Peru - d. Feb. 9, 1921, Lima, Peru), finance minister of Peru (1899-1900); son-in-law of Pedro Diez Canseco.

Belaúnde (Diez Canseco), Víctor Andrés (b. Dec. 15, 1883, Arequipa, Peru - d. Dec. 14, 1966, New York City), foreign minister of Peru (1958) and president of the UN General Assembly (1959-60); son of Mariano A. Belaúnde. He was also minister to Uruguay (1919), Colombia (1934-35), and Switzerland (1936).

Belaúnde Aubry, Rafael Luis (b. Aug. 27, 1947, Lima, Peru), Peruvian politician; son of Fernando Belaúnde Terry; son-in-law of Jorge Guillermo Llosa Pautrat. He was a minor presidential candidate in 2011.

Belaúnde Diez Canseco, Rafael (b. March 8, 1886, Arequipa, Peru - d. April 10, 1972, Lima, Peru), prime minister of Peru (1945-46); son of Mariano A. Belaúnde; brother of Víctor Andrés Belaúnde. He was also minister to Mexico (1933-36), ambassador to Cuba (1936-37), Mexico (1937-38), and Chile (1938-39), and minister of interior and police (1945-46).

Belaúnde Llosa, Rafael Jorge (b. Dec. 26, 1974, Miraflores, Peru), Peruvian politician; son of Rafael Luis Belaúnde Aubry; grandson of Fernando Belaúnde Terry and Jorge Guillermo Llosa Pautrat; great-grandson of Ernesto Montagne Markholz. He was minister of energy and mines (2020).

Belaúnde Moreyra, Antonio (Benito Gabriel José) (b. March 21, 1927, Paris, France - d. Nov. 28, 2013), Peruvian diplomat; son of Víctor Andrés Belaúnde; grandson of Francisco Moreyra y Riglos. He was ambassador to Denmark (1973-80), Colombia (1980-82), Switzerland (1983-88), and Brazil (1994-95).

Belaúnde Moreyra, Martín (Luis Enrique) (b. Oct. 30, 1938, Lima, Peru), Peruvian diplomat; son of Víctor Andrés Belaúnde; grandson of Francisco Moreyra y Riglos; brother of Antonio Belaúnde Moreyra. He was ambassador to Argentina (2003-06).

F. Belaúnde

Belaúnde Terry, Fernando (Sergio Marcelo Marcos) (b. Oct. 7, 1912, Lima, Peru - d. June 4, 2002, Lima), president of Peru (1963-68, 1980-85); son of Rafael Belaúnde Diez Canseco; nephew of Víctor Andrés Belaúnde. He helped to found the National Democratic Front in 1943 and was its representative in the Chamber of Deputies in 1945-48. In 1956, he ran for president for the newly formed Democratic Youth Front; he was defeated but made a surprisingly strong showing. Shortly thereafter this party was renamed Popular Action. He was a fierce defender of his beliefs, to the point of fighting a sabre duel in 1957 with a political rival who had insulted him. The two nicked each other slightly, drawing blood, before referees called the duel over. First elected president in June 1963, he set about forming a reformist coalition. His program of land reform and road building to open the Amazon valley to settlement progressed, but he was frustrated in much of his domestic policy by an opposition-controlled Congress. Public outcry over an agreement with a U.S. corporation, the International Petroleum Company, on the development of oil fields in northern Peru led to his deposal by a military junta in October 1968. He fled to the U.S., returned to Peru in December 1970, and was again exiled from January 1971 to January 1976. In the presidential elections of May 1980 he was returned by a massive majority. He restored freedom of the press to Peru, but was baffled by high inflation, a huge foreign debt, and violent attacks by the Shining Path guerrilla. Resentment over his austerity measures and his inability to control the military in its fight against terrorists led to his crushing electoral defeat in May 1985.

Belaúnde Terry, Francisco (b. Oct. 3, 1923, Lima, Peru - d. Aug. 25, 2020), Peruvian politician; son of Rafael Belaúnde Diez Canseco; brother of Fernando Belaúnde Terry; nephew of Víctor Andrés Belaúnde. He was president of the Chamber of Deputies (1980-81).

Belaventsev

Belaventsev, Oleg (Yevgenyevich) (b. Sept. 15, 1949), plenipotentiary of the president in Krymsky federal district (2014-16) and Severo-Kavkazsky federal district (2016-18).

Belchev, Belcho (Antonov) (b. Nov. 5, 1932, Krastinesti, Bulgaria - d. March 29, 2008), finance minister of Bulgaria (1976-87, 1989-90). He was also ambassador to Yugoslavia (1988-89) and a deputy premier (1990).

Belchev, Hristo (Minchev) (b. 1857, Turnovo, Ottoman Empire [now Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria] - d. [assassinated] March 27 [March 15, O.S.], 1891, Sofia, Bulgaria), finance minister of Bulgaria (1890-91).

Belchev, Valeri (Ivanov) (b. Sept. 6, 1974), finance minister of Bulgaria (2021).

Belchuk, Igor (Lvovich) (b. 1947), acting governor of Primorsky kray (2001).

Belcredi, Richard Graf (count) (b. Feb. 12, 1823, Ingrowitz, Moravia, Austria [now Jimramov, Czech Republic] - d. Dec. 2, 1902, Gmunden, Oberösterreich, Austria), Landespräsident of Silesia (1861-63), Statthalter of Bohemia (1863-65), and prime minister and police minister of Austria (1865-67).

Bele, (Ibrahim) Refet, until Jan. 1, 1935, Refet Pasha (b. 1881, Salonika, Ottoman Empire [now Thessaloniki, Greece] - d. Oct. 2, 1963, Istanbul, Turkey), interior minister (1920-21, 1921) and defense minister (1921-22) of Turkey.

Beleffi, Damiano, Sammarinese diplomat. He has been ambassador to Germany (2007-12) and Canada (2011-12) and permanent representative to the United Nations (2016- ).

Belém, Francisco Leite da Costa (b. Sept. 29, 1828, Penedo, Alagoas, Brazil - d. Sept. 23, 1902, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), acting president of Minas Gerais (1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875).

Belfield, Sir Henry Conway (b. Nov. 29, 1855 - d. Jan. 8, 1923), resident of Negeri Sembilan (1901-02), Selangor (1902-10), and Perak (1910-12) and governor of the British East Africa Protectorate (1912-17); knighted 1914.

Belfort, Antonio de Salles Nunes (baptized Oct. 11, 1789, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil - d. June 22, 1832, São Luís), president of Ceará (1826-29); cousin of Manoel Gomes da Silva Belfort, barão de Coroatá.

Belfort, José Joaquim Teixeira Vieira (b. 1817? - d. Aug. 28, 1876, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil), acting president of Maranhão (1855).

Belgard, Aleksey (Valerianovich) (b. Nov. 24, 1861, Oryol, Russia - d. Feb. 27, 1942, Berlin, Germany), governor of Estonia (1902-05).

Belgayev, Gombo (Tsybikovich) (b. 1904, Kharagun ulus, Irkutsk province, Russia - d. 1983), chairman of the Central Executive Committee (1937-38), acting chairman of the Council of People's Commissars (1937), and chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (1938-40) of the Buryat-Mongol A.S.S.R. He was also deputy premier (1943-46).

Belgrave

Béliz

Belgrave, Sir Elliot (Fitzroy), Elliot also spelled Elliott (b. March 16, 1931), governor-general of Barbados (2011-12 [acting], 2012-17); knighted 2012.

Belhaven and Stenton, Robert Edward Archibald Udny-Hamilton, (11th) Baron, original surname Hamilton (b. April 8, 1871 - d. Oct. 26, 1950), British political agent in Kuwait (1916-18). He succeeded as baron in 1920 and changed his surname in 1934.

Belik, Aleksey (Vasilyevich) (b. April 11, 1983, Pavlovskaya, Krasnodar kray, Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of the government of Sakhalin oblast (2018- ).

Belina-Prazmowski, Wladyslaw (Zygmunt) (b. May 3, 1888, Ruszkowiec, near Opatów, Poland - d. Oct. 13, 1938, Venice, Italy), governor of Lwowskie województwo (1933-37). He was also mayor of Kraków (1931-33).

Belinga Eboutou, Martin (b. Feb. 17, 1940, Nkilzok, French Cameroons [now in Cameroon] - d. May 8, 2019, Geneva, Switzerland), Cameroonian politician. He was director of the civil cabinet at the presidency (1996-97, 2009-18) and permanent representative to the United Nations (1998-2007).

Belitska, Sándor (b. April 1, 1872, Lajosfalva, Hungary [now Padina, Vojvodina, Serbia] - d. Dec. 7, 1939, Budapest, Hungary), defense minister of Hungary (1920-23). He was also minister to Poland (1923-30).

Béliz (Barijian), Gustavo (Osvaldo) (b. Jan. 7, 1962, Buenos Aires, Argentina), interior minister (1992-93) and justice minister (2003-04) of Argentina.

Belk, John Montgomery (b. March 29, 1920, Charlotte, N.C. - d. Aug. 17, 2007, Charlotte), mayor of Charlotte (1969-77).

Belka

Belka, Marek (b. Jan. 9, 1952, Lódz, Poland), deputy prime minister and finance minister (1997, 2001-02), acting prime minister (1997), and prime minister (2004-05) of Poland. He was also executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (2005-08) and governor of the central bank (2010-16).

Belkacem, Chérif (b. July 10, 1930, Ain Beida, Algeria - d. June 23, 2009, Paris, France), finance minister of Algeria (1968-70). He was also minister of national guidance (1963-64) and education (1964-65).

Belkacem, Krim, Arabic Karim Bilqasim (b. Dec. 14, 1922, Ait Yahia, Algeria - d. Oct. 18?, 1970, Frankfurt, West Germany), armed forces minister (1958-60), foreign minister (1960-61), and interior minister (1961-62) of the Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic. He was a member of the so-called "Club of Nine," a group of Algerian nationalists set up in 1954 to organize the insurrection against France. After independence, however, he denounced the regimes of both Ahmed Ben Bella and Houari Boumedienne. He founded the Mouvement démocratique du renouveau algérien in Paris in 1967. On April 6, 1969, he was sentenced to death by a revolutionary court in Oran. On Oct. 20, 1970, he was found strangled in a Frankfurt hotel.

Belkaid, Aboubakr (b. March 19, 1934, Tlemcen, Algeria - d. [assassinated] Sept. 28, 1995, Algiers, Algeria), interior minister of Algeria (1988-89). He was also minister of labour and vocational training (1986-87), higher education (1987-88), environment (1988-89), relations with parliament and associations (1991), communications (1991-92), and culture (1992).

Belkeziz, Abdelouahed, Arabic `Abd al-Wahid Bilqaziz (b. July 5, 1939, Marrakech, Morocco - d. Oct. 19, 2021, Rabat, Morocco), foreign minister of Morocco (1983-85) and secretary-general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (2001-04). He was also ambassador to Iraq (1977-79) and minister of information (1979-83).

Belkhadem

Belkhadem, Abdelaziz, Arabic `Abd al-Aziz Bilkhadim (b. Nov. 8, 1945, Aflou, Laghouat wilaya, Algeria), president of the National Popular Assembly (1990-92), foreign minister (2000-05), and prime minister (2006-08) of Algeria.

Belkheir, Larbi, Arabic al-`Arabi Bilkhayr (b. 1938, Frenda, Algeria - d. Jan. 28, 2010, Algiers, Algeria), interior minister of Algeria (1991-92). Part of a generation of military officers who formed the bedrock of Algeria's ruling elite since independence in 1962, he was the senior adviser to President Chadli Bendjedid (served 1979-92) and also to President Abdelaziz Bouteflika during his first term (1999-2004). While he was interior minister, the radical Islamic Salvation Front was poised to win a legislative election and he was instrumental in having the election cancelled and in Bendjedid's replacement by an emergency Council of State. Soon after, a conflict began between security forces and armed Islamist rebels which killed an estimated 200,000 people. From 2005 he was ambassador to Morocco.

H. Belkhodja

Belkhodja, Hassan, Arabic Hasan Bilkhwaja (b. March 10, 1916, Ras Jebel, northern Tunisia - d. Nov. 29, 1981), foreign minister of Tunisia (1980-81). He was also minister of economic affairs (1969-70), agriculture (1974-79), and transport and telecommunications (1979-80).

Belkhodja, Tahar (b. June 9, 1931, Mahdia, Tunisia), interior minister of Tunisia (1973-77). He was also chargé d'affaires in France (1960-61), ambassador to Senegal, Ivory Coast, Mali, Guinea, and Mauritania (1961-66), Spain (1970), the Vatican (1972-73), and West Germany (1979-80), and minister of youth and sports (1970-71) and information (1980-83).

Belkic

A. Bell

Belkic, Beriz (b. Sept. 8, 1946, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina - d. Aug. 16, 2023), premier of Sarajevo canton (1998-2001) and chairman of the Presidency (2002) and chairman of the House of Representatives (2007, 2009) of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Belknap, William W(orth) (b. Sept. 22, 1829, Newburgh, N.Y. - d. Oct. 12/13, 1890, Washington, D.C.), U.S. secretary of war (1869-76).

Bell, Allan (Robert) (b. July 20, 1947, Isle of Man), chief minister of the Isle of Man (2011-16).

Bell, Sir Charles (Alfred) (b. Oct. 31, 1870 - d. March 8, 1945), British political officer in Sikkim (1908-20, 1920-21); knighted 1922.

Bell, Charles H(enry) (b. Nov. 18, 1823, Chester, N.H. - d. Nov. 11, 1893, Exeter, N.H.), governor of New Hampshire (1881-83); son of John Bell (1765-1836).

Bell, Charles J(ames) (b. March 10, 1845, Walden, Vt. - d. Sept. 25, 1909, New York City), governor of Vermont (1904-06).

Bell, Douglas (Leslie Dewey), byname Doug Bell (b. June 15, 1926, Moose Jaw, Sask. - d. April 18, 2021, Whitehorse, Yukon), commissioner of Yukon Territory (1979-86). He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942. He served in the R.C.A.F. from 1943 to June 1945 as Sgt. Wireless Air Gunner. He became involved in the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Festival in 1969. He would announce the dog races as they were happening and continued to do so during his term as commissioner of Yukon. He soon gained the name of "the Voice of The Races." Besides all of the years that Bell assisted with the dog races, he also involved himself with many of the Main Street events, including the Flour Packing Contest. In addition to his work with the Sourdough Rendezvous Society, Bell served on the Board of Directors of the Yukon Quest, had a ten-year stint as chairman of the Steering Committee of the Federal Interdepartmental Coordinating Committee, and was also chairman of the Yukon Disaster Committee and Emergency Measures Organization for ten years. In 1975, he was elected to the Whitehorse City Council, and in July 1977, he was appointed deputy commissioner of Yukon. From there, he became administrator of Yukon (October 1979), and was appointed commissioner on Dec. 31, 1980. In 1986, Bell became chair of the newly formed Westmark Community Advisory Board, later referred to as the Holland America Community Advisory Board. On April 18, 1990, Bell was appointed to the Order of Canada.

Bell, Sir Francis Dillon (b. Oct. 8, 1822, France - d. July 15, 1898, near Palmerston, Otago, N.Z.), New Zealand politician; knighted 1873. He was treasurer (1856, 1862), minister of native affairs (1862-63), and speaker of the House of Representatives (1871-75).

Bell, Sir Francis Henry Dillon (b. March 31, 1851, Nelson, N.Z. - d. March 13, 1936, Lowry Bay, near Wellington, N.Z.), foreign minister (1923-26) and prime minister (1925) of New Zealand; knighted 1915; son of Sir Francis Dillon Bell. He was also mayor of Wellington (1891-93, 1896-97), minister of internal affairs (1912-15, 1920), immigration (1912-20), education and health (1919-20), marine (1921-22), and justice (1923), and attorney general (1918-26).

Bell, Frank, byname of Francis Jardine Bell (b. Jan. 28, 1840, Toronto, Upper Canada [now Ont.] - d. Feb. 13, 1927, Oakland, Calif.), acting governor of Nevada (1890-91).

Bell, Sir Gawain (Westray) (b. Jan. 21, 1909, Cape Town, Cape Colony [now in South Africa] - d. July 26, 1995, Reading, Berkshire, England), British political agent in Kuwait (1955-57), governor of Northern province, Nigeria (1957-62), and secretary-general of the South Pacific Commission (1967-69); knighted 1957.

Bell, Griffin B(oyette) (b. Oct. 31, 1918, Americus, Ga. - d. Jan. 5, 2009, Atlanta, Ga.), U.S. attorney general (1977-79).

Bell, Sir (Henry) Hesketh (Joudou) (b. Dec. 17, 1864, West Indies - d. Aug. 1, 1952, London, England), administrator of Dominica (1899-1905), commissioner (1906-07) and governor (1907-09) of Uganda, and governor of Northern Nigeria (1909-12), the Leeward Islands (1912-16), and Mauritius (1916-24); knighted 1908.

Bell, Sir James Alexander (b. Jan. 28, 1856 - d. Nov. 10, 1926), political resident of Aden (1910-15); knighted 1911.

Bell, Johannes (b. Sept. 23, 1868, Essen, Prussia [now in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany] - d. Oct. 21, 1949, Würgassen [now part of Beverungen], Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany), justice minister of Germany (1926-27). He was also minister of colonies (1919), transportation (1919-20), and the occupied territories (acting, 1926-27).

Bell, John (b. July 20, 1765, Londonderry, N.H. - d. March 22, 1836, Chester, N.H.), governor of New Hampshire (1828-29).

J. Bell

Bell, John (b. Feb. 15, 1797, near Nashville, Tenn. - d. Sept. 10, 1869, near Cumberland Furnace, Tenn.), U.S. politician. He entered the U.S. House of Representatives in 1827 and served there as a Democrat until 1841; he was speaker in 1834-35. He broke with Pres. Andrew Jackson in 1834 in the fight over the Bank of the United States. In 1836 he supported Hugh Lawson White for president. After White's defeat Bell became a Whig and, in March 1841, as a reward for party services, was made secretary of war in Pres. William Henry Harrison's cabinet. A few months later, after the death of President Harrison, he resigned in opposition to Pres. John Tyler's break with the Whigs. After six years' retirement from political life, Bell was elected as a U.S. senator for Tennessee in 1847, serving until 1859. Although a large slaveholder, Bell opposed efforts to expand slavery to the U.S. territories. He vigorously opposed Pres. James K. Polk's Mexican War policy and voted against the Compromise of 1850, the Kansas-Nebraska bill (1854), and the attempt to admit Kansas as a slave state. Bell's temperate support of slavery combined with his vigorous defense of the Union brought him the presidential nomination of the moderate Constitutional Union party in 1860, but he carried only Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. He initially opposed secession, but following Pres. Abraham Lincoln's call for troops, he advocated resistance and henceforth classed himself a rebel, though he took no active part in the Civil War.

Bell, John C(romwell), Jr. (b. Oct. 25, 1892, Philadelphia, Pa. - d. March 18, 1974, Philadelphia), governor of Pennsylvania (1947).

Bell, Sir Nicholas Dodd Beatson (b. 1867 - d. Feb. 12, 1936), chief commissioner (1918-21) and governor (1921) of Assam; knighted 1919.

Bell, Peter H(ansborough) (b. May 12, 1812, Culpeper county, Va. - d. March 8, 1898, Littleton, N.C.), governor of Texas (1849-53).

Bell, Sir Robert Duncan (b. May 18, 1878, Edinburgh, Scotland - d. May 24, 1953), acting governor of Bombay (1936); knighted 1935.

Bell, Samuel (b. Feb. 9, 1770, Londonderry, N.H. - d. Dec. 23, 1850, Chester, N.H.), governor of New Hampshire (1819-23); brother of John Bell (1765-1836).

Bell, Terrel H(oward) (b. Nov. 11, 1921, Lava Hot Springs, Idaho - d. June 22, 1996, Salt Lake City, Utah), U.S. secretary of education (1981-85). Bell served as commissioner of education under presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan before he was appointed as education secretary. He originally was appointed as secretary to phase out the Education Department, which was created by Pres. Jimmy Carter. Bell's leadership at the education department led to the "A Nation At Risk" report, which prompted a school reform movement to make education consistent with the demands of a modern-day market. The 1983 report found serious flaws in the nation's education system and concluded that schools were drowning in mediocrity.

Bell, William Moody (b. March 27, 1879 - d. Dec. 17, 1954, Christchurch, N.Z.), resident commissioner of Niue (1931-42).

Bell-Irving, Henry Pybus, byname Budge (b. Jan. 21, 1913, Vancouver, B.C. - d. Sept. 21, 2002, Vancouver), lieutenant governor of British Columbia (1978-83). He led Canadian forces during the liberation of the Netherlands in World War II. He was an honorary chief of the Nisga'a Nation.

Bell Lemus, Gustavo (Adolfo) (b. Feb. 1, 1957, Barranquilla, Colombia), vice president (1998-2002) and defense minister (2001-02) of Colombia. He was also governor of Atlántico (1992-94) and ambassador to Cuba (2011-17).

Bellal

Bellal, Mohamed Vall Ould (b. 1949, Magta Lahjar, Brakna wilaya, Mauritania), foreign minister of Mauritania (2003-05). He was also ambassador to Senegal (2007-09) and Qatar (2009-11).

Bellalouna, Mohamed (b. 1916, M'saken, Tunisia - d. ...), justice minister of Tunisia (1971-73).

Belleau, Sir Narcisse Fortunat (b. Oct. 20, 1808, near Québec, Lower Canada [now Que.] - d. Sept. 14, 1894, Québec), joint premier of Canada (1865-67) and lieutenant governor of Quebec (1867-73); knighted 1860.

Bellegarde, Pedro de Alcântara (b. Dec. 3, 1807, aboard the Príncipe Real in Brazilian waters - d. Feb. 12, 1864, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), war minister of Brazil (1853-55). He was also minister of navy (1853) and agriculture (1863-64).

Bellenger, Frederick (John) (b. July 23, 1894, London, England - d. May 11, 1968, London), British secretary of state for war (1946-47).

Bellerive

Bellido

Bellerive, (Joseph) Jean-Max (b. 1958, Port-au-Prince, Haiti), prime minister of Haiti (2009-11). He was also minister of planning and external cooperation (2006-11) and justice and public security (2011).

Bellido (Ugarte), Guido (b. Aug. 7, 1979, Livitaca district, Cusco department, Peru), prime minister of Peru (2021).

Bellion, Dominique (Sylvain Gabriel) (b. Aug. 25, 1948, Saint-Flour, Cantal, France), prefect of Martinique (1998-2000). He was also prefect of the départements of Mayenne (1991-94), Aude (1994-98), Allier (2000-03), Dordogne (2003-05), Gard (2005-09), and Meurthe-et-Moselle (2009-11).

Bellmon, Henry (Louis) (b. Sept. 3, 1921, Tonkawa, Okla. - d. Sept. 29, 2009, Enid, Okla.), governor of Oklahoma (1963-67, 1987-91). He began his political career at age 25, when he was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The state's first Republican governor, he was credited with making the party a viable force in state politics. In 1967, he served as national chairman of the Nixon for President campaign. He then went on to win election to the U.S. Senate in 1968 and again in 1974. During his first term as a U.S. senator, he supported a federal court order that called for crosstown busing to achieve racial balance in Oklahoma City public schools. Many state newspapers criticized him for his stance. After concluding his second term in the U.S. Senate, Gov. George Nigh, a Democrat, called upon Bellmon to be interim director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, which was undergoing restructuring. In 1985, he was selected as receiver of the financially troubled National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage in Oklahoma City. The following year, he decided to run for governor again at a time when the state was reeling from the effects of a major downturn in the petroleum industry and problems in the agricultural sector. With two of the state's largest industries in trouble, tax revenues declined and the state government faced painful layoffs and budget cuts. He proposed increasing various state taxes and fees, which put him at odds with fellow Oklahoma Republicans. At the end of his second term as governor, he saw passage of the Education Reform and Funding Act of 1990. The legislation called for an increase in funding for public schools by 27%, as well as smaller class sizes, compulsory kindergarten, and teacher incentive pay.

Bello, Alhaji Sir Ahmadu (b. June 12, 1909, Rabah [now in Sokoto state], Nigeria - d. [killed in coup] Jan. 15, 1966, Kaduna, Nigeria), premier of Northern Region, Nigeria (1954-66); knighted 1959; great-grandson of Usuman dan Fodio. Holding the traditional title of Sardauna of Sokoto, he was a founder of the Northern People's Congress in 1951.

H. Bello

Bello, Huguette (b. Aug. 24, 1950, Ravine des Cabris, Réunion), president of the Regional Council of Réunion (2021- ).

Bello, Luiz Alves Leite de Oliveira (b. April 21, 1817, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil - d. Dec. 30, 1865, Barra do Ribeiro, Rio Grande do Sul), acting president of Rio Grande do Sul (1851-52, 1855) and Rio de Janeiro (1861-62, 1862-63); son of Wencesláo de Oliveira Bello.

Bello, Luiz Alves Leite de Oliveira (b. March 5, 1849, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - d. May 23, 1915, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), president of Sergipe (1880-81), Paraná (1883-84), and Santa Catarina (1889); son of the above.

Bello, Silvestre, III, in full Silvestre Hernando Bello (b. June 23, 1944, Gattaran, Cagayan, Philippines), justice secretary of the Philippines (1991-92, 1998). He was also governor of Isabela (1986-88), solicitor general (1996-98, 1998), cabinet secretary (2008-10), and secretary of labor and employment (2016-22).

Bello, Wencesláo (Alves Leite) de Oliveira (b. 1787, Ribeirão de Alberto Dias, Minas Gerais, Brazil - d. July 22, 1852, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), president of Sergipe (1839-40), Espírito Santo (1843), and Rio Grande do Norte (1844-45).

Bello Codesido, Emilio (b. July 31, 1868, Santiago, Chile - d. March 3, 1963, Santiago), foreign minister (1900-01, 1904, 1923-24, 1924) and junta chairman (1925) of Chile. He was also minister of industry and public works (1898), justice (1900), interior (1904-05), and defense (1933-38) and minister to Mexico (1901-02) and Bolivia (1919-20).

Belloch Julbe, Juan Alberto (b. Feb. 3, 1950, Mora de Rubielos, Teruel province, Spain), justice minister (1993-96) and interior minister (1994-96) of Spain. He was also mayor of Zaragoza (2003-15).

Bellony, Emmanuel (Janvier) (b. Jan. 1, 1917, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, French Guiana - d. May 31, 1987), president of the General Council of French Guiana (1982-85).

Belloubet, Nicole, former married name Nicole Belloubet-Frier (b. June 15, 1955, Paris, France), justice minister of France (2017-20). She has also been minister of national education and youth (2024- ).

Bellune, Claude Victor Perrin, duc de (b. Dec. 7, 1764, Lamarche [now in Vosges département], France - d. March 1, 1841, Paris, France), war minister of France (1821-23, 1823). He was created duc (duke) in 1808.

Belluzzi

Belluzzi, Andrea (b. March 23, 1968, San Marino), captain-regent of San Marino (2015). He has also been minister of education, culture, university, scientific research, and youth policy (2020-24) and interior (2023 [acting], 2024- ).

Belmont, Joseph (b. June 1, 1947, Grand Anse, Mahé, Seychelles - d. Jan. 28, 2022, Victoria, Seychelles), vice president of Seychelles (2004-10). He was also minister of labour and social security (1982-85), manpower and social services (1985-86), health and social services (1986-88), employment and social services (1988-89), administration and manpower (1989-98), industries and international business (1998-99), land use and housing (1999-2004), tourism, transport, and public administration (2004-07), and internal affairs, public administration, and tourism (2007-10).

Belmont (Cassinelli), Ricardo (Pablo) (b. Aug. 29, 1945, Lima, Peru), Peruvian politician. He was mayor of Lima (1990-95) and a minor presidential candidate (1995).

Belmonte, Feliciano (Racimo), also called Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., byname Sonny Belmonte (b. Oct. 2, 1936, Manila, Philippines), Philippine politician. He was speaker of the House of Representatives (2001, 2010-16) and mayor of Quezon City (2001-10).

Belmonte, Joy, byname of Maria Josefina Tanya Go Belmonte Alimurung (b. March 15, 1970, Quezon City, Philippines), Philippine politician; daughter of Feliciano Belmonte. She is mayor of Quezon City (2019- ).

Belmonte Cortez, Francisco, finance minister of Bolivia (1985).

Belmore, Somerset Lowry-Corry, (2nd) Earl of (b. July 11, 1774, Dublin, Ireland - d. April 18, 1841, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England), governor of Jamaica (1829-32). He succeeded as earl in 1802.

Belmore, Somerset Richard Lowry-Corry, (4th) Earl of (b. April 9, 1835, London, England - d. April 6, 1913, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Ireland [now in Northern Ireland]), governor of New South Wales (1868-72); grandson of Somerset Lowry-Corry, Earl of Belmore. He succeeded as earl in 1845.

Belo, Júlio Celso de Albuquerque (b. July 28, 1873, Barreiros, Pernambuco, Brazil - d. April 25, 1951, Recife, Pernambuco), acting governor of Pernambuco (1928-29, 1930).

Belo, Newton de Barros (b. July 12, 1907, São Bento, Maranhão, Brazil - d. April 9, 1976, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), governor of Maranhão (1961-66).

Belo, Saturnino (b. 1890, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil - d. Jan. 16, 1951, São Luís), federal interventor in Maranhão (1946-47).

Belobrádek, Pavel (b. Dec. 25, 1976, Náchod, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic]), a deputy prime minister (and minister without portfolio) of the Czech Republic (2014-17). He was also chairman of the Christian and Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party (2010-19).

Belonogov, Aleksandr (Mikhailovich) (b. May 15, 1931, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), Soviet/Russian diplomat. He was ambassador to Egypt (1984-86) and Canada (1992-98) and permanent representative to the United Nations (1986-90).

Belonogov, Anatoly (Nikolayevich) (b. Feb. 24, 1939, Ust-Umlekan, Amur oblast, Russian S.F.S.R. - d. Sept. 7, 2019), chairman of the Executive Committee (1989-90, 1990-91) and head of the administration (1997-2001) of Amur oblast.

Belotsky, Moris (Lvovich) (b. 1895, Lipovets, Kiev province, Russia [now Lypovets, Ukraine] - d. 1944, Vyshnevolotsk prison, Kalinin [now Tver] oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), first secretary of the Communist Party committee of the Kirgiz A.S.S.R. (1933-37). He was also executive secretary of the party committee of North Ossetian autonomous oblast (1930-31).

Belousov, Andrey (Removich) (b. March 17, 1959, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), first deputy prime minister (2020-24) and defense minister (2024- ) of Russia. He was also minister of economic development (2012-13).

Belousov, Igor (Sergeyevich) (b. Jan. 15, 1928, Leningrad, Russian S.F.S.R. [now St. Petersburg, Russia] - d. Feb. 10, 2005), Soviet politician. He was minister of shipbuilding (1984-88) and a deputy premier (1988-91).

Beloyannis

Beloyannis, Nikos (b. 1915, Amaliada, Ilia prefecture, Greece - d. March 30, 1952, near Athens, Greece), Greek Communist. In 1934 he became a member of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE). From 1934 to 1936 he played an instrumental role in many party organizations all over Peloponnese. He was arrested in March and August 1936 for his revolutionary activities. In June 1937, he escaped but was rearrested in May 1938, when he was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and 2 years exile. When the Germans invaded Greece in 1941, he was still in prison. He managed to escape in 1943. From that moment to the day of the liberation of Greece he was participating in the National Resistance in Patras, where he was the Political Commissar of the National People's Liberation Army (ELAS). During the civil war (1946-49) he played a political role in the Democratic Army of Greece (DSE). After the collapse of the Communist Front (Mount Grammos), he fled the country. In 1950 he was elected a member of the Central Committee of the KKE. He illegally returned to Greece, where he was arrested in December 1950. He was kept for more than a year in an isolated lightless cell. In the court martial, he demonstrated that the only reason he was about to be executed was his Communist beliefs. On March 1, 1952, he and 7 others received the death sentence for espionage involving high treason. During a break in the trial, his companion, Elli Ioannidou, offered him a red carnation. The picture of the "man with the carnation" went around the world, and there were many unsuccessful demands for the conversion of his sentence. He was executed on a Sunday before dawn in the light thrown by headlights of 15 clustered trucks; no outsider was permitted to approach within a quarter mile of the spot.

Belozertsev

W. Beltrán

Belozertsev, Ivan (Aleksandrovich) (b. Sept. 15, 1958, Baranovo village, Oryol oblast, Russian S.F.S.R.), governor of Penza oblast (2015-21). He was head of Penza city in 2005-12.

Belt (Ramírez), Guillermo (b. July 14, 1905, Havana, Cuba - d. July 2, 1989, Arlington, Va.), Cuban diplomat. He was ambassador to the United States (1944-49) and permanent representative to the United Nations (1945-49).

Beltrami, Vittorio (b. June 6, 1926, Omegna, Piemonte, Italy - d. Nov. 29, 2012), president of Piemonte (1985-90).

Beltramino, Juan Carlos (Marcelino) (b. June 2, 1924, Rosario, Argentina - d. Dec. 9, 2016), Argentine diplomat. He was ambassador to Romania and Bulgaria (1972-75), Yugoslavia and Albania (1976-80), Austria (1982-86), and Australia and New Zealand (1989-91) and permanent representative to the United Nations (1980-82).

Beltrán (Mullin), (Jorge) Washington (b. April 6, 1914, Montevideo, Uruguay - d. Feb. 19, 2003, Montevideo), president of the National Council of Government of Uruguay (1965-66).

P.G. Beltrán

Beltrán Espantoso, Pedro Gerardo (b. Feb. 17, 1897, Lima, Peru - d. Feb. 16, 1979, Lima), Peruvian politician. In 1936 he helped organize the National Party, whose candidate lost that year's presidential election. He was ambassador to the United States (1944-46) and president of Peru's Central Reserve Bank (1948-50). He championed free commerce and urged an absolute minimum of government controls. In 1956, during the regime of Pres. Manuel Odría, Beltrán was jailed for one month on the island prison of El Frontón for advocating a relaxation of Odría's repressive rule. In 1959 he became prime minister and minister of finance when the Peruvian economy was edging toward disaster. With the country's inflation rate at 11%, Beltrán was appointed by Pres. Manuel Prado in a desperate move to rebuild the economy. During his two years as prime minister, Beltrán repaid Peru's debt of $14.5 million to the International Monetary Fund, cut inflation to 3%, and instituted a "free-exchange basis," which strengthened the country's foreign reserves and its balance of trade. In 1961 he made a bid for the presidency, but dropped plans to run in the 1962 election after his initial campaign rally attracted only a handful of supporters. He then resigned from the government and returned to editing La Prensa, an independent and influential Lima newspaper which he owned since 1934 but which was expropriated in 1974 by the military government of Pres. Juan Velasco Alvarado.

Beltrão, Pedro da Cunha (b. July 5, 1849 - d. April 21, 1928, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil), president of Paraíba (1885) and Maranhão (1889).

Beltrones Rivera, Manlio Fabio (b. Aug. 30, 1952, Villa Juárez, Sonora, Mexico), governor of Sonora (1991-97). He was also president of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies (2004-05) and Senate (2006-07, 2010-11) and president of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (2015-16).

Belyakov, Aleksandr (Semyonovich) (b. May 20, 1945, Sortavala, Karelo-Finnish S.S.R. [now Karelia, Russia]), governor of Leningrad oblast (1991-96).

Belyakov, Anatoly (Mikhailovich) (b. March 6, 1933, Orenburg, Russian S.F.S.R. - d. Feb. 14, 2017, Moscow, Russia), first secretary of the Communist Party committee of the Buryat A.S.S.R. (1984-90). He was also first secretary of the party committee of Ulan-Ude city (1970-84).

Belyavsky, Konstantin (Yakovlevich) (b. 1802 - d. Nov. 11 [Oct. 30, O.S.], 1857), military governor of Kutaisi (1847-51).

Belyayev, Ivan (Stepanovich) (b. Nov. 26 [Nov. 13, O.S.], 1907, Vorobyovo, Tver province, Russia - d. March 22, 1967, Petrozavodsk, Karelian A.S.S.R., Russian S.F.S.R.), chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Karelian A.S.S.R. (1956-67). He was also people's commissar/minister of education (1944-51) and deputy premier (1951-56).

Belyayev, Mikhail (Alekseyevich) (b. Jan. 4, 1864 [Dec. 23, 1863, O.S.], St. Petersburg, Russia - d. [executed] September 1918, Moscow, Russia), war minister of Russia (1917). He was also chief of the General Staff (1914-16).

Belyayev, Nikolay (Ilich) (b. Feb. 1 [Jan. 19, O.S.], 1903, Kuterem, Ufa province, Russia - d. Oct. 28, 1966, Moscow, Russian S.F.S.R.), first secretary of the Communist Party of the Kazakh S.S.R. (1957-60). He was also chairman of the Executive Committee of Altay kray (1943) and first secretary of the party committees of Altay (1943-55) and Stavropol (1960) kraya.

Belykh

Belykh, Nikita (Yuryevich) (b. June 13, 1975, Perm, Russian S.F.S.R.), governor of Kirov oblast (2009-16). In 2005-08 he was leader of the opposition party Union of Rightist Forces. He was arrested on bribery charges in June 2016 and dismissed as governor the following month on grounds of loss of trust.

Belzu (Humérez), Manuel Isidoro, byname Tata Belzu (b. April 4, 1808, La Paz, Bolivia - d. March 27, 1865, La Paz), president of Bolivia (1848-55). Entering the army, he rose to the rank of general, and in 1848 he overthrew the government. He restored the constitution of 1839 but jailed, killed, or banished his political enemies and made a mockery of Congress. He endeavoured to promote agriculture, industry, and trade, restored to the Indians their communal lands, and reestablished the provincial governments, but his incitement of the Indians led to murder and pillage. In 1855 he resigned and went to live abroad. He tried to seize the presidency again in 1865, winning popular acclaim in La Paz during an absence of Pres. Mariano Melgarejo, but when Melgarejo returned Belzu was killed, after seemingly having won the battle; according to one version, Melgarejo himself fearlessly went towards Belzu and shot him, then asked the terrified crowds: "Belzu is dead, who lives now [quién vive ahora]?" - prompting shouts of "Viva Melgarejo." Belzu was married to noted writer Juana Manuela Gorriti.

Bém

Bém, Pavel (b. July 18, 1963, Prague, Czechoslovakia [now in Czech Republic]), mayor of Praha (2002-10).

Bemananjara, Jean (Andrianaribone) (b. Aug. 13, 1943, Toamasina, Madagascar - d. Jan. 15, 1997), foreign minister of Madagascar (1976, 1983-91). He was also minister of transport and supply (1975-76) and transport, supply, and tourism (1976-82).

Bemba (Gombo), Jean-Pierre (b. Nov. 4, 1962, Bokada, Ubangi [now in Nord-Ubangi] province, Congo [Léopoldville (now Kinshasa)]), a vice president (2003-06) and defense minister (2023- ) of Congo (Kinshasa). He was a rebel leader in 1998-2003 and a presidential candidate in 2006.

Bembinov, Grigory (Badmayevich) (b. 1923, Shin Gerl farm, Kalmyk autonomous oblast, Russian S.F.S.R. [now Vinogradovo, Kalmykia, Russia] - d. 1998), chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Kalmyk A.S.S.R. (1962-67). Earlier he was agriculture minister.

Ben Abbes (Taarji), Youssef (b. Aug. 15, 1921, Rabat, Morocco - d. May 27, 1997, Paris, France), foreign minister of Morocco (1970-71). He was also minister of health (1958-62) and education (1962-65) and ambassador to Egypt (1965-66), Italy and Greece (1967-68), Algeria (1969-70), Spain (1971-72), France (1972-90), and the Vatican (1976-91).

Ben Abbes Taarji, Bachir (b. 1918), justice minister of Morocco (1972-74). He was also mayor of Marrakech city (1969-70) and governor of Marrakech (1972).

Ben Aïssa, Mohamed Salah (b. Nov. 1, 1948, Tunis, Tunisia), justice minister of Tunisia (2015).

Ben Ali, (Mohamed) Ridha (b. Nov. 20, 1920, Gafsa, Tunisia - d. August 2008), justice minister of Tunisia (1984-86).

Ben Ali, (Prince) Said Ibrahim (b. April 17, 1911, Tananarive [now Antananarivo], Madagascar - d. Dec. 20, 1975, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia), finance minister (1957-58), president of the Territorial Assembly (1958-61), president of the Chamber of Deputies (1961-70), and president of the Government Council (1970-72) of the Comoros; son of Saidi Ali bin Saidi Omar. He was head of the royal family of Grande Comore in 1960-75.

Ben Ali, Salim (b. 1918? - d. 2002, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates), prime minister of the Comoros (1978-82). Before the islands' independence, he was minister of public works, supply, and transport (1959-69) and minister of economy and planning (1969-75). Before becoming prime minister, he served as president of the Supreme Court; he also was governor of Ngazidja. He died in his country of origin, Sharjah, after a long disease following a car accident which had occurred in the Comoros in 2001; his son repatriated him to the Comoros and he was buried in Moroni on Nov. 15, 2002.

Z. Ben Ali

Ben Ali, Zine El Abidine, Arabic Zayn al-`Abidin Bin `Ali (b. Sept. 3, 1936, Hammam-Sousse, eastern Tunisia - d. Sept. 19, 2019, Saudi Arabia), president of Tunisia (1987-2011). He came into the top government circles as head of military security (1964-74) and then became military attaché to Morocco (1974-77). He returned to become director of national security under the Hédi Nouira government, and in April 1980 he became Tunisian ambassador in Warsaw. Returning to Tunis in October 1984, he was appointed state secretary for national security and, a year later, a cabinet minister. He earned a reputation as a hardliner capable of establishing law and order; he demonstrated this ability while serving national security during the January 1978 riots and later after the 1984 bread riots. In April 1986 he became interior minister. Widespread support for him derived from his active role in rooting out the violent fundamentalist Islamic Tendency Movement, which in August 1987 planted bombs in tourist resorts. He was regarded as Pres. Habib Bourguiba's most suitable successor for some time, a view shared by Bourguiba himself, who appointed Ben Ali as prime minister in early October 1987. On Nov. 7, 1987, in a remarkably peaceful coup, engineered to make it constitutional, Ben Ali took over the presidency from Bourguiba, who was declared medically unfit to rule. Although Ben Ali and Bourguiba both strongly opposed the religious extremists, Ben Ali believed in a more moderate approach, and it was Bourguiba's decision to reopen the recently ended trial of 90 Islamic fundamentalists that prompted the coup. Ben Ali promised to permit an active role for most opposition parties in state affairs but the country remained under a de facto one-party system. He received more than 99% of the vote in elections in 1989, 1994, and 1999. He was OAU chairman in 1994-95. After a controversial constitutional referendum in 2002 allowing him to remain in office until 2014, he was reelected again in 2004 and 2009. In January 2011 he was forced by a popular uprising to flee the country, finding refuge in Saudi Arabia. In June 2011 he was sentenced in absentia to 35 years in prison for embezzlement, in July to another 15 years for illegal possession of arms, drugs, and archaeological artifacts, plus 16 years for real-estate corruption, and in June 2012 to 20 years for inciting "murder and looting" during a police attempt to smuggle his nephew out of the country in the 2011 revolt.

Ben Amar, Ahmed (b. 1926, Aleg, Mauritania), interior minister of Mauritania (1971-73). He was also minister of justice (1968), national education (1968-70), health and labour (1970-71), and basic education and religious affairs (1973-75).

Ben-Ami

Ben-Ami, Shlomo (b. July 17, 1943, Tangier, Morocco), foreign minister of Israel (2000-01). He served as Israel's ambassador to Spain from 1987 to 1991. Elected to the Knesset in 1996, he served as a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and of the Subcommittee on Foreign Service. In July 1999 he was appointed minister of public security. In August 2000, after the resignation of David Levy, he was named acting foreign minister, and in November 2000 foreign minister, while continuing to serve as minister of public security. He left office in 2001, refusing to serve under Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Ben Ammar, Hassib (b. April 11, 1924, Tunis, Tunisia - d. Dec. 15, 2008, Tunis), defense minister of Tunisia (1970-71). He was also mayor of Tunis (1963-69) and ambassador to Italy (1969-70).

Ben Ammar, Tahar, Arabic Tahar Bin `Ammar (b. Nov. 25, 1885, Tunis - d. May 10, 1985), prime minister of Tunisia (1954-56).

Ben Ammou, Nadhir (b. 1959, Dar Chaabane, Nabeul, Tunisia), justice minister of Tunisia (2013-14).

Ben Barka

Ben Barka, Mehdi, Arabic al-Mihdi Bin Barka (b. January 1920, Rabat, Morocco - d. Oct. 31?, 1965, Fontenay-le-Vicomte?, Seine-et-Oise [now in Essonne], France), Moroccan politician. An early nationalist, he joined the Comité d'Action Marocaine and later was one of the founding members of the Istiqlal party and political director of its weekly publication. He signed the Istiqlal manifesto on Jan. 11, 1944, demanding an end to the French protectorate, an act for which he was gaoled. Upon release in October 1954, he was responsible for building his party into a mass movement. He was exiled to southern Morocco in March 1951 when the party's activities were suspended and Sultan Muhammad V sent to Madagascar. After the sultan's return, Ben Barka was appointed president of the National Consultative Assembly in 1956. After independence, Ben Barka clashed with the conservative elements of the Istiqlal party and left to found the Union Nationale des Forces Populaires in 1959. He continued to criticize the government and successfully contested National Assembly elections in 1962. Soon after, he was forced to leave Morocco when a plot to assassinate King Hassan II was discovered. He was sentenced to death in absentia. In exile, he travelled widely, representing his party until his mysterious disappearance on Oct. 29, 1965. Stopped on the Boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris by two French policemen, he was shown their police cards and asked to follow them. He was taken in a police car to Fontenay-le-Vicomte (south of Paris) and never seen again in public. He is presumed to have been killed, though the circumstances are still unclear today. It is supposed that his abduction was masterminded by members of the Moroccan police and the then Moroccan interior minister Gen. Muhammad Oufkir.

Ben Bella

Ben Bella, (Mohammed) Ahmed (Arabic Muhammad Ahmad Bin Balla), also known as Hemmimed, Abdelkader Mebtouche, or Messaoud Mezziani (b. Dec. 25, 19181, Maghnia [Marnia], Algeria - d. April 11, 2012, Algiers, Algeria), prime minister (1962-63) and president (1963-65) of Algeria. He joined Messali Hadj's underground movement, and after Gov. Marcel Edmond Naegelen rigged elections in 1948 he became one of those Algerians who considered illusory any hope of achieving independence democratically. With his friends in Messali Hadj's party, he founded the Organisation Spéciale (OS), whose aim was to take up arms as quickly as possible. After robbing the post office at Oran (1950) to obtain funds for the nationalist movement, he was sentenced to prison, but he managed to esc