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Brewster (SIR DAVID a Scotch natural)

SIR DAVID, a Scotch natural philosopher, born in Jedburgh in 1781. He was educated for the Church of Scotland. In 1808 he undertook the editorship of the "Edinburgh Encyclopædia," which was not finished till 1829. In 1815 he received the Copley medal for his paper on the "Polarization 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 kaleidoscope, 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 William 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 properties of light have led to great improvements in the illumination of lighthouses. Among his more popular works are a "Treatise on the Kaleidoscope," a "Treatise on the Stereoscope," a "Treatise on Optics," "Letters on Natural Magic," "The Martyrs of Science," and "Memoirs on the Life and Writings of Sir Isaac Newton." He died in Montrose, Scotland, Feb. 2, 1868.