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BRAUXSBERG BRAXTOX 215 Btudios at Rome, nnd became professor in the university of Bonn in 1827. In conjunction with Hermes and Droste-HulshofF, he founded Die Zeitschr iftfUr Philosophie und katholische Tlteologie. In 1835 Hermes's lectures were sus- pended by order of the Vatican, and in 1837 Braun proceeded to Rome ; but his efforts to change the decision of the pope were not suc- cessful, and in 1843 he was himself compelled to relinquish his professorship. In 1848 he be- came a member of the Frankfort parliament, and in 1850 of the first chamber of the Prus- sian diet. He was the author of a number of works, theological, literary, nnd political. BRACiMSBERG, a town of Prussia, in the dis- trict and 34 m. S. W. of Konigsberg, on the Passarge, near the Frische Haff ; pop. in 1871, 10,471. It was formerly the seat of the bish- ops of Ermeland. It has an ancient castle, a Roman Catholic lyceum, theological and philo- sophical faculty, a Catholic gymnasium, and several churches. BRADWER, or Bronwer, Adrian, a Dutch paint- er, born at Haarlem, or at Oudenarde in East Flanders, in 1608, died in Antwerp in 1640. He first made designs of flowers nnd birds, which were stitched upon caps and bonnets sold to the peasants by his mother. Francis Hals, a painter of Haarlem, happening to see some of these, invited the young artist to re- ceive instruction at his house, where he kept him hard at work in a garret, and appropriated to himself the proceeds of his pictures. Here Brauwer remained for many months, ignorant of the estimation in which his talent was held abroad, until by the assistance of his fellow pupil, Adrian Ostade, he was enabled to escape to Amsterdam, where he led a dissipated life and painted only when impelled by necessity. During the wars with Spain he started on a journey to Antwerp, but, being unprovided with a passport, he was imprisoned as a spy. The prince of Aremberg, a fellow prisoner, recognizing his talent, induced him to paint something. The subject was a group of soldiers playing at cards, which the artist sketched from his prison window ; and the picture being shown to Rubens, he at once pronounced it a work of Brauwer, whose release he immediately pro- cured, and whom he received as an inmate into his house. Brauwer's longing for his old life, however, soon induced him to leave his pro- tector, and after a brief career of dissipation he died in a public hospital. BRAVO, Nicolas, a Mexican soldier and states- man, born at Chilpancingo about 1790, died there, April 22, 1854. He took part in the first revolution in 1810, and served in all the actions till 1814. Having joined Minas's party in 1817, he was imprisoned in Mexico till 1820. He was a zealous supporter of Itnrbide, and became a member of the regency which exercised the supreme power for 40 days in 1822 ; but he contributed to the deposition of the emperor in 1823, and was a member of the provisional government till 1824. In December, 1827, he headed a revolt against President Bnstamanto, he being at the time vice president himself, which office he held till April, 1829. In 1830 he commanded against the insurgents under Guerrero, who was captured and executed by Bravo's order, Feb. 17, 1831. In 1839 he be- came president of the council, and in 1842-'3 held the supreme power for a few months as substitute of Santa Anna, absent with the army ; and he was again temporary president from July 29 to Aug. 4, 1846, when he was; deposed by a revolution. During the war with the United States he participated in the battle of Cerro Gordo; and toward the end of 1853, being accused by Santa Anna's ministry of having secretly joined the insurrection head- ed by Juan Alvarez, he denied the accusation and retired from public life. His death was sud- den, and attended by suspicious circumstances. BRAVO Ml It 1 1, 1,0. Jnan, a Spanish statesman, born at Frejenal de la Sierra in 1803. He studied theology, and afterward law, and began to practise in 1825. He was fiscal at Oiiceres from 1833 to 1835. In 1836 he founded at Madrid the Boletin de Jurisprudencia, the first law journal in Spain, and edited for the mode- rados El Porvenir, and in 1837 El Piloto. He became an influential member of the cortes in 1837, and upon the revolution of 1841 was pro- scribed and fled to France. He returned in 1843, but confined himself to his profession. In 1847 he entered the ministry of Nnrvaez, and when the latter resigned in 1850 took his place as prime minister, holding it as an ex- treme absolutist till 1852. He again had to fly after the revolution of 1854, but was recalled by the counter revolution of 1856. He has since held important diplomatic positions. BRAXTON, a central county of West Virginia ; area, 646 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 6,480, of whom 87 were colored. The surface is hilly, and cov- ered with large forests. The soil is well water- ed, and generally fertile. The Elk, Little Ka- nawha, and Holly are the principal rivers. Coal is found in several places, and in the northern part are salt springs. The chief productions in 1870 were 20,019 bushels of wheat, 130,690 of corn, 29,908 of oats, and 1,951 tons of hay. There were 1,558 horses, 2,049 milch cows, 2,105 other cattle, 9,923 sheep, and 6,513 swine. Capital, Sutton. BRAXTOJf, Carter, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, born at Newington, King and Queen co., Va., Sept. 10, 1736, died Oct. 10, 1797. He inherited several plantations, and in early life resided some years in England. In 1765 he took an active part in the session of the house of burgesses of Virginia, in which the resolutions of Patrick Henry were adopted, and in the subsequent assemblies which were dissolved by the governor. On Dec. 15, 1775, he was elected delegate to the continental con- gress, as successor of Peyton Randolph. lie did not remain long in congress, but served in the legislature of Virginia till 1786, when ho became one of the executive council.