Page:Men of the Time, eleventh edition.djvu/183

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BREWER—BRIALMONT.

Esq., and stepdaughter of the late Capt. Gurwood, C.B. (editor of the Duke of Wellington's Despatches).

BREWER, The Rev. E. Cobham, LL.D., second son of John Sherren Brewer, Esq., "a man of Kent," was born May 2, 1810, in Russell Square, London, and educated by private tutors. He proceeded to Trinity Hall, Cambridge, in 1832, obtained the Freshmen's Prizes for Latin and English Essays, was first prizeman the next two years, and though strongly advised to go out in mathematics, took his degree in the Civil Law, First Class, in 1835. He was ordained deacon in 1834, priest in 1836, proceeded to the degree of LL.D. in 1840, and devoted himself to literature. In 1850 was published his "Guide to Science," of which 1000 copies per month were sold for many years. He resided for six years, from 1852, in Paris, where he brought out, at the Emperor's request, a French version of his "Guide to Science," and where, in 1856, he married Ellen Mary, eldest daughter of the Rev. Francis Tebbutt of Hove. On his return to England he resided for a time in Bernard Street, Russell Square, and then moved to St. Luke's Villas, Westbourne Park. Failing health compelled him to retire into the country, and he lived for many years at Lavant, next Goodwood, where, in 1868, he brought out his "Dictionary of Phrase and Fable" (14th edition, 1881), and in 1881 his "Reader's Handbook" (3rd edition, 1882). Besides these books, Dr. Brewer published in 1859 "Theology in Science," to show the marks of wisdom and design brought to light by scientific discoveries; "History (political and literary) of France," 1863; "History (political and literary) of Germany," 1881; about thirty educational books, and a number of pamphlets under various pseudonyms.

BRIALMONT, Alexis Henri, a Belgian writer on military subjects, son of General Laurent Mathieu Brialmont, was born at Venloo, in the province of Limburg, May 25, 1821. He quitted the military school at Brussels with the rank of sub-lieutenant in 1843. Being connected, as an engineer officer, with the management of the fortifications, he was appointed to carry out the works at the fortress of Diest. From 1847 to 1850 he was private secretary to General Chazal, thoc Minister of War. In 1855 he left the corps of engineers and became a member of the staff, attaining to the rank of Captain in 1857. In due course he became Major-General, and in 1877 Lieutenant-General. He was appointed Inspector-General of Fortifications and of the Sappers and Miners in Belgium in 1875. Lieut.-General Brialmont has written many works on military history and tactics. Among them are "Précis d'Art Militaire," 1844, in the "Bibliothèque Populaire" of the "Société pour l'Emancipation Intellectuelle;" "Éloge de la Guerre, ou réfutation des doctrines des Amis de la Paix," 1849, a pamphlet written on the occasion of the Congress, and dedicated to the army; "De la Guerre, de l'Armée, et de la Garde Civique," 1849; a remarkable article on the construction of Powder Magazines, in the "Annales des Travaux Publics," 1849; "Considérations politiques et militaires sur la Belgique," 3 vols., 1851–52; "Histoire du Duc de Wellington," 3 vols., 1856–57, translated into English with emendations and additions by the Rev. G. R. Gleig, 1858, et seq.; "A French Officer's Ideas upon the Defence of England," edited by A. Kinloch, 1860; "Études sur la Défense des États et sur la Fortification," 3 vols., with atlas, 1863; "Le Corps Belge du Mexique," 1864; "Réflexions d'un Soldat sur les Dangers qui menacent la Belgique," 1865; "Considérations sur la Réorganisation de l'Armée," 1866; "Traité de Fortifi-