BEASLEY, Frederick, clergyman, born near Edenton, North Carolina, in 1777 ; died in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, 2 November 1845. His father was a planter, and sent the son to Nassau Hall, afterward Princeton, where he was graduated in 1797. For three years he was tutor in the College, and at the same time studied theology. He was ordained in the Episcopal Church in 1801, and became pastor of St. John's Church, Elizabethtown, in 1803, rector of St. Peter's, Albany, in 1804, and co-rector in St. Paul's, Baltimore, in 1809. From 1813 till 1828 he was provost of the University of Pennsylvania, and also professor of mental and moral philosophy, and became favorably known by his metaphysical work in defense of the philosophy of Locke. In 1815 the degree of died D. was conferred on him by both Columbia College and the University of Pennsylvania. He retired from the College in 1829, and took charge of a Church in Trenton, where he remained until 1836. His health failing, he removed to Elizabethtown and passed the remainder of his days in retirement, pursuing literary and theological studies. His principal published writings are: "American Dialogues of the Dead" (1815) ; "An Examination of the Oxford Divinity," published during the Tractarian controversy; " A Search of Truth in the Science of the Human Mind" (vol. i., 1822 ; vol. ii. left complete in MS.); "Vindication of the Argument a priori in Proof of the Being and Attributes of God, from the Objection of Dr. Waterland" (1825); "Review of Brown's Philosophy of the Human Mind" (1825); "A Vindication of the Fundamental Principles of Truth and Order in the Church of Christ," a reply to the views of Dr. Manning (1830) ; " An Examination of No. 90 of the Tracts for the Times" (1841). He also contributed to periodical literature on moral and metaphysical sciences.