Buddhism or theosophy. Mme. Blavatsky, after spending seven years in a Himalayan retreat studying the mysteries of this subject, came to the United States and was naturalized. About 1875 she founded the Theosophical Society, with Col. Frederick P. Olcott as its president and herself as secretary. The objects of the organization are: 1. To form the nucleus of a universal brotherhood; 2. To study Aryan literature, religion, and science; 3. To indicate the importance of this inquiry; 4. To explore the hidden mysteries of nature and the latent powers of man. Branches of the society were founded in America and in England; and subsequently Mme. Blavatsky returned to India, there to establish the society among the natives. She was the author of "Isis Unveiled: a Master-Key to the Mysteries of Ancient and Modern Science and Theology" (New York, 1877), and was editor of "The Theosophist," published in India. See "The Occult World," by A. P. Sinnett (London, 1884), and "Memoirs of Mme. Blavatsky" by the same author (New York, 1886).
BLEDSOE, Albert Taylor, educator, b. in Frankfort, Ky., 9 Nov., 1809; d. in Alexandria, Va., 8 Dec, 1877. He was appointed from Kentucky to the U. S. Military Academy, and was graduated in 1880, after which he served in the army at Fort Gibson, Indian territory, until 31 Aug., 1832, when he resigned. From 1833 till 1834 he was adjunct professor of mathematics and teacher of the French language at Kenyon, and in 183o-'6 professor of mathematics at Miami. After studying theology he was ordained a clergyman in the Protestant Episcopal church in 1835, and was connected with various churches in Ohio until 1838. Having previously studied law, he began its practice in Springfield, Ill., in 1838, and continued it there and in Washington, D. C., till 1848. During the years 1848-'54 he was professor of mathematics and astronomy at the University of Mississippi, and from 1854 till 1861 professor of mathematics at the University of Virginia. In 1861 he entered the confederate service as colonel, but was soon made chief of the war bureau and acting assistant secretary of war. In 1863 he went to England to collect material for his work on the constitution, which he published on his return in 1866. He then settled in Baltimore and began the publication of the "Southern Review," hitherto mainly of a political character, which under his editorship assumed a theological tone and became the recognized organ of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. In 1868 he became principal of the Louisa school, Baltimore, and in 1871 was ordained a minister in the Methodist church. In addition to numerous contributions to periodicals he published "An Examination of Edwards on the Will" (Philadelphia, 1845); "A Theodicy or Vindication of the Divine Glory" (New York, 1853); "Liberty and Slavery" (Philadelphia, 1857); "Is Davis a Traitor? or was Secession a Constitutional Right previous to the War of 1861?" (Baltimore, 1866); and "Philosophy of Mathematics" (Philadelphia, 1866).
BLEDSOE, Jesse, senator, b. in Culpepper co., Va., 6 April, 1776; d. near Nacogdoches, Texas, 30 June, 1837. When a boy he emigrated to Kentucky and then studied at the Transylvania seminary, where he became a fine scholar. He afterward studied law and practised with great success. In 1808 he became secretary of state under Gov. Chas. Scott, and in 1813 was a member of the legislature. He was elected U. S. senator from Kentucky, and served from May, 1813, till 1815. From 1817 till 1820 he was state senator. In 1820 he was a presidential elector, and in 1822 was appointed circuit judge in the Lexington district. Accordingly he settled in Lexington, where he also became professor of law in Transylvania University. Later he returned to the practice of his profession, in 1833 removed to Mississippi, and in 1835 to Texas, where he was engaged collecting historical material at the time of his death.
BLEECKER, Ann Eliza, poet, b. in New York city in October, 1752; d. in Tomhannock, near Albany, N. Y., 23 Nov., 1783. She was the youngest daughter of Brandt Schuyler, of New York, and passed her early life in that city. In 1769 she married John J. Bleecker, of New Rochelle, and, after a year's residence in Poughkeepsie, settled in Tomhannock. Here her life was very happy until the arrival of Burgoyne's army in 1777, when she fled with her young children under conditions of great suffering, reaching Albany at first, and then Red Hook, where she remained until after the surrender of Burgoyne. Soon after returning to her home at Tomhannock she was taken sick and died. Her poems, devoted principally to domestic topics, were rather melancholy, and were written as the occasion suggested, without any intention of publication. A number of these, however, appeared in the "New York Magazine." Some years after her death her stories and poems were collected and published under the title of "Posthumous Works of Ann Eliza Bleecker in Prose and Verse," with a memoir by her daughter, Margaretta V. Faugeres (new ed., New York, 1809).
BLEECKER, Anthony, author, b. in New York city in October, 1770; d. there 13 March, 1827. He was the son of Anthony Lispenard Bleecker, who resided on the estate through which Bleecker street now passes, and from which it has taken its name. He was graduated at Columbia in 1791 and studied law, but never was a successful practitioner on account of his unconquerable diffidence. His natural tastes led him to the pursuit of letters, and for thirty years he was a prolific contributor of both prose and verse to the periodical literature of New York and Philadelphia. The "Narrative of the Brig Commerce" is one of his best-known works. He was one of the founders of the New York Historical Society, and excelled all his associates, except Pintard, in devotion to the interests of the new institution; also a trustee of the New York Society Library from 1810 till 1826. The poet Bryant wrote in 1825: "Anthony Bleecker, who read everything that came out, and sometimes wrote for the magazines, was an amusing companion, always ready with his puns, of whom Miss Eliza Fenno, before her marriage to Verplanck in 1811, wrote that she had gone into the country to take refuge from Anthony Bleecker's puns."—His nephew, Richard Wade, b. in New York city, 27 Aug., 1821; d. there, 21 April, 1875. He was engaged in business in New York city, and for some time was president of the North American Fire Insurance Company. He was an active patron of the arts and sciences, and the literary receptions held at his residence were attended by prominent artists and authors. Mr. Bleecker was a member of the New York Historical Society, a fellow of the National Academy of Design, a member of the American Institute, and also of other art and historical societies both at home and abroad.
BLEECKER, Harmanus, lawyer, b. in Albany, N. Y., 19 Oct., 1779; d. there, 19 July, 1849. He studied at Union, but before the completion of his course was admitted to the bar in Albany, where he practised many years as a partner of Theodore Sedgwick. Afterward he was elected to congress as a federalist, serving from 4 Nov., 1811, till 3
