Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/404

376 a course of lectures before the College of physicians and surgeons in New York, and in 1840 was appointed superintendent of the Hartford retreat for the insane, notwithstanding strong opposition from many of the directors on grounds stated above. In 1842, having accepted a similar place in the state lunatic asylum at Utica, N. Y., he removed to that place, and remained there until his death. Here, as at Hartford, he was successful, both as a business manager and in his care for his patients. Besides having personal supervision of about 500 insane persons, he delivered popular lectures, was often called to testify in the courts as an expert, and established, in 1844, the quarterly "Journal of Insanity." This strain upon him was one of the causes of his death, which a trip through the southern states, in the spring of 1848, was unable long to postpone. Dr. Brigham published, besides the works already mentioned, a "Treatise on Epidemic Cholera" (1832); "Diseases of the Brain" (Utica, 1836); and "Asylum Souvenir," a small volume of maxims for the use of those who had been under his care (Utica, 1849).

BRIGHAM, Charles Henry, clergyman, b. in Boston, Mass., 27 July, 1820 ; d. in Brooklyn, N. Y., 19 Feb., 1879. He was graduated at Harvard in 1839, and on 27 March, 1844, was ordained pastor of the first Congregational church in Taunton, Mass. He became pastor of a Unitarian church in Ann Arbor. Mich., in 1866, and in the same year was chosen professor of biblical archaeology and ecclesiastical history at Meadville (Pa.) theological school, where he lectured twice a year for ten years. He also organized in Ann Arbor a Bible-class especially for the students of Michigan university. In 1877 ill health forced him to give up his work. He was a member of the State board of health, of the American oriental society, the Philological society, and the American association for the advancement of science, contributed much to periodical literature, and published "Letters of Foreign Travel" (2 vols.) and "Life of Rev. Simeon Daggett." A collection of his papers, with a memoir by Rev. B. B. Willson, appeared after his death (Boston, 1881).

BRIGHAM, Paul, soldier, b. in 1745; d. in Norwich, Vt., 16 June, 1824. He was four years a captain in the Revolutionary army, was high sheriff of Windsor county, Vt., for five years, major-general of militia, and chief judge of the county court for five years. He was lieutenant-governor of the state from 1796 till 1813, and again from 1815 till 1820. From 25 Aug. till 16 Oct., 1797, he was acting governor, by reason of the death of Gov. Thomas Chittenden.

BRIGHT, Jesse D., senator, b. in Norwich, Chenango co., N. Y., 18 Dec, 1812 ; d. in Baltimore, Md.. 20 May, 1875. He was taken to Indiana by his parents in 1820, received an academic education there, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1831. and began practice in Madison, Ind. He was elected judge of the probate court of Jefferson co. in 1834, was sent to the legislature in 1836, and in 1841 became lieutenant-governor of the state. He had also served as circuit judge and U. S. marshal. He was sent to the U. S. senate as a democrat in 1845, and was twice re-elected, serving several times as its president pro tempore. While in congress he voted persistently with the southern democrats on all questions involving the restriction of slavery. In 1857 it was claimed by the republicans that his election was fraudulent, and his seat was contested. He was victorious, however, and held it until 1862, when a charge of disloyalty was brought against him, the chief evidence being a letter addressed to "His Excellency, Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederation of States," recommending a friend who had an " improvement in fire-arms " of which he wished to dispose. The senate committee on the judiciary reported, five to two, that this did not constitute sufficient evidence against Mr. Bright. In a speech in his own behalf, he said that in March, 1861 (the date of the letter), he had no idea that there would be war, and that he wrote it to rid himself of the inventor's importunities. Nevertheless, strong speeches against him were made by Charles Sumner and others, and on 5 Feb., 1862, he was formally expelled from the senate, by a vote of 32 to 14. He afterward removed, with his family, to Carrollton, Ky., and then to Covington, where he was elected to the Kentucky legislature in 1866. In 1874 he removed to Baltimore, where he remained till his death.

BRIGHT, Jonathan Brown, author, b. in Waltham, Mass., 23 April, 1800; d. there, 17 Dec., 1879. He was educated in the Waltham common schools and in Westford (Mass.) academy, and at sixteen years of age removed to Missouri. Five years later he engaged in business in Alabama, and in 1823 went to New York, where he became a cotton-broker. In 1849 he left business and retired to his native place, where he was known as a public-spirited citizen. Mr. Bright became interested in genealogy, and made many researches into his family history both here and in England, the results of which were published in a volume intended for private distribution, which has been pronounced a model for works of its kind. It is entitled &ldquo;The Brights of Suffolk, England, represented in America by the Descendants of Henry Bright, Jr., who settled at Watertown, Mass., about 1630&rdquo; (1858). Mr. Bright left to Harvard college $50,000, the income to be divided between the purchase of books and the support of scholarships, to which Brights lineally descended from Henry Bright, Jr., should have priority of claim.

BRIGHT, Marshal Huntington, b. in Hudson, N. Y., 18 Aug., 1834. He received an academic education, and took a course at the Lawrence scientific school of Harvard in 1852-'3. In 1854 he became associate editor of the Albany "Argus," and was a reporter in the New York state senate. He was appointed on the staff of Gen. Robert Anderson in October, 1861, and afterward served on the staffs of Gens. D. C. Buell, W. S. Roseerans, and George H. Thomas. He was brevetted major for his services during the war, and, after resigning his commission at its close, engaged in silver-mining in Nevada. In 1873 he became editor of the "Christian at Work," New York, and continues in that position. He has contributed to periodicals on theological, scientific, and sociological subjects, and has delivered numerous addresses. Author of " The Story of America " (1895).

BRIGNOLI, Pasquale, singer, b. in Naples, Italy, in 1824; d. in New York city. 30 Oct., 1884. He received a fine musical education, and became a pianist of some ability. It is said that at the age of fifteen he wrote an opera, and, disgusted at the way in which the finest aria was sung, rushed upon the stage and sang it himself, to the delight of all. He paid little attention, however, to the cultivation of his voice until after he was twenty-one. Success in the concert-room encouraged him to appear in opera, in Paris and London. He came to the United States with Strakosch in 1855, and soon attained a popularity that lasted almost to the end of his life. His voice in his best days was a tenor of great volume and sweetness, and even in his sixtieth year he was still heard with delight