BREWSTER 170 BRIANS BREWSTER, SIR DAVID, a Scotch natural philosopher, born in Jedburgh in 1781. He was educated for the Church f Scotland. In 1808 he under- took the editorship of the "Edinburgh Encyclopasdia," which was not finished till 1829. In 1815 he received the Cop- ley medal for his paper on the "Polari- zation of Light by Reflection," and in the following year, for his discoveries in physics an award from the French Institute. In 1816 he invented the ka- leidoscope, in 1818 received the Rumford medal of the Royal Society, and in 1830 was presented with the medal of the Royal Society for his further researches on the properties of light. In the same year, with Davy, Herschel, and Babbage, he originated the British Association, the first meeting of which was held at York in 1831. He was knighted by Wil- liam IV. In 1841 he became principal of St. Leonard's College at St. Andrew's. In 1849 he was elected President of the British Association, and the same year was chosen, in the place of Berzelius, one of the eight foreign Associates of the French Academy of Sciences. His discoveries in reference to the proper- ties of light have led to great improve- ments in the illumination of lighthouses. Among his more popular works are a "Treatise on the Kaleidoscope," a "Trea- tise on the Stereoscope," a "Treatise on Optics," "Letters on Natural Magic," "The Martyrs of Science," and "Me- moirs on the Life and Writings of Sir Isaac Newton." He died in Montrose, Scotland, Feb. 2, 1868. BREWSTER, WILLIAM, one of the Massachusetts Pilgrims, was born in Scrooby, England, in 1560. He came of a well known family; was educated at the University of Cambridge, and was for a time postmaster at Scrooby. He had accepted the Separatist doctrines taught by Hooker and others, and in consequence had to flee to Holland, where he supported himself by printing. He was one of the leaders of those who sailed for the New World in the "May- flower," and, as elder of the church, encouraged his fellow colonists at Ply- mouth both by his preaching and his example. He died in Plymouth, Mass., April 10, 1644. . BRIAN (surnamed BOROIMHE), King of Ireland, son of Kennedy, King of Munster, son of Lorcan. He ascended the throne of both Munsters, i. e., the present counties of Tipperary and Clare, A. D. 978. His earlier exploits were against the Danes of Limerick and Waterford, but, being elated by fre- quent successes against these invaders. he deposed O'Maelachaghlin, the su- preme king of the island, and eventually became himself monarch of Ireland. Having disputed with Maelmora, the King of Leinster, Maelmora revolted, and, inviting a new invasion of Danes to his assistance, brought on the battle of Clontarf, in which King Brian fell, after gaining a glorious victory on Good Friday, 1014. He was the founder of the numerous sept of O'Brien, O or Ua being a distinctive adnomen not assumed by Irish families till after his time. This national prefix means "descendant of," or, "of the kindred of," and was originally supplied by the more ancient Mac, which means "son." BRIAND, ARISTIDE, a French V statesman, born in Nantes in 1863. He intended to embrace the law as a pro- fession, but his tendencies led him rather toward journalism and politics. He was connected with a number of Rad- ARISTIDE BRIAND ical journals and allied himself with the Socialist party, in which he soon became a prominent figure. He possessed re- markable oratorical gifts, his voice espe- cially being penetrating and musical. He was elected to the Chamber of Dep- uties in 19^2. and in 1906 became Min-
