BREWSTER, Sir DAVID, an eminent natural philosopher, and eloquent writer, was b. at Jedburgh, Dec. 11, 1781. He was educated for the church of Scotland at the univer sity of Edinburgh,where he highly distinguished himself. In 1808,11e undertook the editor ship of the Edinburgh Encyclopedia, to which he contributed many important scientific articles. Previous to this, he had entered deeply on the study of optics, with which his name is now enduringly associated. The beautiful philosophical toy, called the kaleid oscope, was invented by him in 1816. In 1819, in conjunction with prof. Jameson, he established the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal; and in 1831 he was one of the chief originators of the British association for the advancement of science. The honors con ferred on this distinguished man make up a long catalogue. In 1815, he obtained the Copley medal of the royal society for one of his optical discoveries, and soon after was elected a fellow; in 1816, lie received half the physical prize bestowed by the French institute for two of the most important scientific discoveries made in Europe during the two preceding years; in 1819, the royal society awarded him the Rumford gold and silver medals, for his discovery on the polarization of light; in 1825, lie became corresponding member of the institute of France; in 1832, he was knighted, and had a pension con ferred upon him; in 1838, he was chosen principal of the united colleges of St. Leonard
and St. Salvador, St. Andrews; in 1849, on the death of Berzelius, in the preceding year, lie was elected one of the eight foreign associates of the French institute, the highest scientific distinction in Europe. Sir David was also a member of the imperial and royal academies of St. Petersburg, Berlin, Copenhagen, and Stockholm; presided over the British association, and in 1851, over the peace congress held in London. In 1859, on the cleat i of Dr. John Lee, lie was chosen principal of the Edinburgh university. His principal work is his Life of iVewton, first published in 1828, in the Family Library, and issued in a totally new and greatly enlarged form in 1855. Among his other works are his interesting Letters on Natural Magic, addressed to sir Walter Scott, also published in the Finnity Library; More Worlds than One (1854); his treatises on the kaleidoscope and on optics (Cabinet Cyclopaylia); his Martyrs of Science; and his treatises in the Encyclope dia Britannica on electricity, magnetism, optics, the stereoscope, etc. Among other periodicals to which he contributed largely are the Edinburgh and North Reg errs. lie died Feb., 1868. See Home Life of B. by his daughter, Mrs. Gordon (1869).