importance dates from the time when it became, in 852, a
seat of the Saracen power, and in 885, the residence of the Byzantine
governor. In 1071 it was captured by Robert Guiscard. In 1095 Peter the
Hermit preached the first crusade there. In 1156 it was razed to the
ground, and has several times suffered destruction. In the 14th century it
became an [v.03 p.0401] independent duchy, and in 1558 was left by Bona
Sforza to Philip II. of Spain and Naples.

(T. AS.)

BARILI, a town of the province of Cebu, island of Cebu, Philippine Islands,
on the Barili river, 2 m. from its mouth and about 35 m. S.W. of Cebu, the
capital. Pop. (1903) 31,617. It has a relatively cool and healthful
climate. Its people are agriculturists and raise Indian corn, sibucao,
hemp, cacao and coffee. The language is Cebu-Visayan.

BARING, the name of a family of English financiers and bankers. The firm of
Baring Brothers was founded by FRANCIS BARING (1740-1810), whose father,
John Baring, son of a Lutheran minister at Bremen, had come to England from
Germany, and started a cloth manufactory at Larkbear, near Exeter. Francis
Baring was born at Larkbear, and in due course was placed in a London
commercial firm. In 1770, in conjunction with his brother John, Francis
Baring established a banking-house in London, and before he died in 1810
had so developed the business that he was regarded as the first merchant in
Europe. He was for many years a director of the East India Company, and
chairman in 1792-1793, receiving a baronetcy for his services. From
1784-1806 he sat almost continuously in parliament as a Whig. He left five
sons, of whom the eldest, SIR THOMAS BARING (1772-1848), was a well-known
art-patron and collector. The control of the business passed to his second
son, ALEXANDER (1774-1848), better known as LORD ASHBURTON, who had already
been highly successful in extending the firm's operations in America, where
his marriage with the daughter of William Bingham, a wealthy resident of
Philadelphia and United States senator, secured him considerable influence
with the American commercial community. From 1806-1835 he represented
various constituencies in parliament where he strongly opposed reform. In
1834 he became president of the Board of Trade and master of the mint in
Sir Robert Peel's first administration, and the following year was raised
to the peerage as Baron Ashburton. His business capacity and intimate
acquaintance with American custo