Page:A Compendium of Irish Biography.djvu/63

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
BRO
BRO

preciate and collect the scattered poems in the Irish language. These she translated, and in 1789 published with the originals, in a volume entitled Reliques of Irish Poetry. She certainly did an acceptable service to her country, in rescuing from oblivion a few of the interesting remains of its ancient genius. She had much of her father's poetical talents, was enthusiastically attached to the drama, and wrote Belisarius, a tragedy, and other works. She was an intimate friend of Maria Edgeworth's. She died in Dublin in 1793. 39 49 50

Brouncker, William, Viscount Castlelyons, a mathematician, was born at Castlelyons, County of Cork, in 1620. [His father was President of Munster, and was made a Viscount in 1645.] For his adherence to the Stuarts he was, at the Restoration, appointed Chancellor to the Queen, Lord of the Admiralty, and Master of St. Catherine's Hospital, London. He was the first president of the Royal Society, an office which he retained for fifteen years. Amongst other mathematical works, he published Continued Fractions, and The Quadrature of a portion of the Equilateral Hyperbola. In 1653 he published a translation of Descartes' Musicæ Compendium, enriched with observations which show that he was deeply skilled in the theory of music. He died at Westminster, 5th April 1684, aged about 64. 16 97 250

Brown, Andrew, a journalist, was born in the north of Ireland, about 1744. Educated at Trinity College, he went to America as an officer in the British army. He settled in Massachusetts, and fought on the American side at Lexington, Bunker's Hill, and elsewhere—was made Muster-Master-General in 1777, and afterwards Major. After the peace, he opened an academy for young ladies in Philadelphia, for which occupation, however, his irritable temper unfitted him. In 1788 he began to publish the Federal Gazette (changed in 1793 to the Philadelphia Gazette), the channel through which many of the friends of the federal constitution addressed the public. He was the first who regularly reported the debates in Congress. His death (on 4th February 1797) was caused by injuries received while fruitlessly endeavouring to save his wife and three children from the fire which destroyed his establishment eight days previously. His son Andrew until 1803 carried on the Gazette; but, taking the British side in politics, he became unpopular, and removed to England, where he died in 1847. 37

Brown, William, Admiral in the service of Buenos Ayres, was born in Ireland about 1779. He went to the United States in 1793, and was employed in the mercantile marine until 1797, when he was impressed by a British war-vessel. In 1814, being at Buenos Ayres, in command of a merchant-vessel, he was induced to enter the naval service of that country; and, receiving the command of its flotilla, engaged, in April of that year, some Spanish vessels off Martin-Garcia Island. In the ensuing May he brought about the capture of Monte Video by the defeat of the Spanish fleet. He was now made Admiral, and was successful in expeditions against Spanish commerce in the Pacific. Returning upon one occasion with a rich booty, he was taken by a British war-vessel, carried into Antigua and "condemned [we are not told to what] upon frivolous and unreasonable allegations." The war with Brazil brought him again into notice, and increased his naval reputation. The date of his decease is not mentioned by Drake. 37*

Browne, George, Archbishop of Dublin. As friar of the order of St. Augustin, he commended himself to Henry VIII.'s notice, and on the murder of Archbishop Allen by the FitzGeralds,he was appointed to the see of Dublin, and consecrated by Cranmer, 19th March 1535. He continued an ardent advocate of the Reformation through life. He wrote to Thomas Cromwell in 1535, that he had "endeavoured almost to the hazard of his life to reduce the nobility and gentry of Ireland to due obedience in owning the King their supreme head as well spiritual as temporal, but that he was much opposed therein especially by Cromer, Archbishop of Armagh." 339 He followed all Henry VIII.'s changes, opportunely supporting them with Scriptural arguments. In his efforts to establish the Reformation in Ireland, he met with but slight success, and Henry found it difficult to reconcile himself to this, seeing how readily his English subjects accorded. The Bishop of Meath and other prelates met him with open resistance, "and his attempts to displace the images and relics from the cathedrals of Dublin were stubbornly opposed by his clergy, who despatched a secret emissary to Rome, to bear their assurances of devotion and implore for aid." 196 Browne also met much opposition from Lord Grey and others high in power. In 1542 we find him successfully contending in a lawsuit with Lord Howth concerning the ownership of Ireland's Eye. On Mary's accession he was, as a married man, deprived of his see, and he died soon afterwards. Ussher describes him as "a man of cheerful countenance; in his acts and conduct, plain and downright; to the poor, merciful and com-

39