BEAL, Abraham, philanthropist, born in Chatham, England, about 1803; died in Brooklyn, New York, 25 February 1872. Early in life he became interested in the condition of the unfortunate, and while in London noticed the great injury caused by intemperance among workingmen. For a time he devoted himself to the cause of total abstinence, but encountered much opposition and persecution. He frequently appeared in court as the advocate of those who, by intemperance, had become criminals, and in this manner became known as "the prisoner's friend." In 1848 he immigrated to the United States, and for some years engaged in business; but his interest continued with the unfortunate prisoners. He became very familiar with the criminal laws of New York and other states, and in 1863 assumed the general agency of the New York Prison Association. He was for many years an efficient officer of the New York Port Society. BEAL, Foster Ellenborough Laseelles, naturalist, born in South Groton (now Ayer), Massachusetts, 9 January 1840. He was graduated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1871. During 1874-'5 he was assistant professor of mathematics in the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, and from 1876 till 1882 professor of civil engineering in Iowa Agricultural College, where from 1879 till 1882 he was also acting professor of zoology and comparative anatomy, and in 1883 professor of geology. His writings, principally on topics of natural history, include the articles "Birds of Iowa" (1881-'2) ; "Value of the Seed-eating Birds" (1882), and similar contributions to the "Iowa Homestead" and the "American Naturalist."