BECHER

Alexander Bridport ( eld. son of Alexander Becher, captain R.N. who d. 1827 ). b. 12 June 1796; midshipman R.N. 28 Nov. 1812; captain on h.p. 20 March 1856, retired R.A. 11 June 1874; a istant in Hydrographic office 12 May 1823 to 1865, arranged and methodised all documents preserved there 1823–26; sec. to board of visitors of royal observatory; F.R.A.S. 1830, member of council; edited the Nautical magazine from its commencement in 1832 to 1871; author of The landfall of Columbus on his first voyage to America 1856. d. 46 Upper Gloucester place, London 15 Feb. 1876. Dunkin’s Obituary notices of astronomers (1879) 1–6.