BRUCKER, Jon): JAMLS, a learned German author, well known by his laborious and original researches into the history philosophy, was born at Augsburg!). in Swabia, on the 22d of January 1696. He prosecuted his studies at the university of Jena, where• he afterwards continued to reside, for a considerable period, in the ca pacity of a tutor or private teacher, and returned to his native city in-the year 1720. After having attained to some eminence in the clerical profession in other parts, he was, at length, in 1740, appointed pastor of the church of St Uiric's, and senior minister of Augsburgh, where he died in the month of November 1770.
Brucker was eminently distinguished by the extent, depth, and variety of his historical and literary attain ments ; by his indefatigable industry in research, and by the judgment he displayed in the application and ar rangement of the knowledge he had acquired. Besides several useful works on subjects connected with ancient and modern literature and philosophy, lie is principally known at home, and among foreigners, as the author of the Historic Critica Philosonhicr, which was first pub fished at Leipsic in 1742-44, in five volumes quarto, and afterwards, in 1767, and following years, in an enlarged and improved edition in six volumes. In this excellent
work, the author gives biographical sketch of die lives of the different philosophers respectively ;.revi ws their writings, explains their various systems and doctrines, and verifies his narrative by means of a copious exhibi tion of authorities. These volum s, indeed, contain a biographical and critical account of the ancient and mo dern philosophers and their works, rather than a sys tematical history of the progress of science ; neverthe less thcy certainly constitute a most valuable repertory of knowledge, in that particular department of literature, and have proved a highly useful book of reference to those who have since devoted themselves to philosophi cal researches.
An abridged translation of this work was published by Dr Enfield, in tao volumes quarto, London, 1790. Brucker also prepared an excerpt from his larger work,' entitled, Institutiones Philosolthicx 1756. Denkuiirdigkciten aus dent Leben ausgezeichn. Teutseh. d. ! Sten. Jahrhund. Schnepfenthal, 1802. (a-)