Sir David Brewster | |
---|---|
![]() Brewster, c. 1824 | |
Principal of the University of Edinburgh | |
In office 1859–1868 | |
Preceded by | John Lee |
Succeeded by | Sir Alexander Grant |
1st Principal of the University of St Andrews | |
In office 1837–1859 | |
Succeeded by | Reverend John Tulloch |
Personal details | |
Born | 11 December 1781 Canongate, Jedburgh, Roxburghshire, Kingdom of Great Britain |
Died | 10 February 1868 Allerly House, Gattonside, Roxburghshire, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland | (aged 86)
Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
Known for | Physical optics, Brewster's angle, photoelasticity, stereoscope, kaleidoscope[1] |
Spouses | Juliet Macpherson
(m. 1810; died 1850)Jane Kirk Purnell (m. 1857) |
Children | 5 |
Awards | Copley Medal (1815) Keith Prize (1827–29, 1829–31) Royal Medal (1830) |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Physics, mathematics, astronomy |
Notes | |
Founding Director of the Scottish Society of Arts (1821) | |
Sir David Brewster KH PRSE FRS FSA Scot FSSA MICE (11 December 1781 – 10 February 1868) was a Scottish scientist, inventor, author, and academic administrator. In science he is principally remembered for his experimental work in physical optics, mostly concerned with the study of the polarization of light and including the discovery of Brewster's angle. He studied the birefringence of crystals under compression and discovered photoelasticity,[2] thereby creating the field of optical mineralogy.[3] For this work, William Whewell dubbed him the "father of modern experimental optics" and "the Johannes Kepler of optics."[4]
Brewster was a pioneer in photography. He invented an improved stereoscope,[5] which he called "lenticular stereoscope" and which became the first portable 3D-viewing device.[6] He also invented the stereoscopic camera,[7][8] two types of polarimeters,[9] the polyzonal lens, the lighthouse illuminator,[10] and the kaleidoscope.
Brewster was a devout Presbyterian and marched arm-in-arm with his brother during the events of the Disruption of 1843, which led to the formation of the Free Church of Scotland.[11] As a historian of science, Brewster focused on the life and work of his hero, Isaac Newton. Brewster published a detailed biography of Newton in 1831 and later became the first scientific historian to examine many of the papers in Newton's Nachlass. Brewster also wrote numerous works of popular science,[12] and was one of the founders of the British Science Association,[13][14] of which he was elected president in 1849. He became the public face of higher education in Scotland, serving as Principal of the University of St Andrews (1837–1859) and later of the University of Edinburgh (1859–1868). Brewster also edited the 18-volume Edinburgh Encyclopædia.
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