Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/447

Rh American Bible society, and a series of Latin classics. In 1816 they sold out the printing business, and bought a building in Eldridge street for their foundry. Here, and subsequently in 1818, when they erected the foundry still occupied by their successors in Chambers street, George gave his attention to the enlargement and development of the type-founding business, while David confined his labors to stereotyping. In 1822 David's health failed, and the partnership was dissolved. George soon relinquished stereotyping, and gave his whole attention to type-founding, and introduced valuable improvements into the business, cutting his own punches, making constantly new and tasteful designs, and graduating the size of the body of the type so as to give it a proper relative proportion to the size of the letter. In connection with his nephew, David Bruce, Jr., he invented the only type-casting machine that has stood the test of experience, and is now in general use. His scripts became famous among printers as early as 1832, and retained their pre-eminence for a generation. The last set of punches he cut was for a great primer script. He was at the time in his seventy-eighth year, but for beauty of design and neatness of finish, the type in question has rarely been excelled. Mr. Bruce was a man of large benevolence, of unflinching integrity, and great decision of character. He was president for many years of the Mechanics' institute, and of the type-founders' association, and an active member of. and contributor to, the historical society, St. Andrew's society, the typographical society, and the general society of mechanics and tradesmen.

BRUCE, Henry, naval officer, b. in Maehias, Me., 12 Feb., 1798; d. in Somerville, Mass., 9 Feb., 1895. He was appointed as midshipman on 9 Nov., 1813, and was captured while attached to the "Frolic," 18 guns, when she surrendered to the British man-of-war "Orpheus," 36 guns, remaining for six months as prisoner of war in Halifax. N. S. He became lieutenant on 13 Jan., 1825, was attached to the "Macedonian" and afterward to the "Franklin," when she conveyed Minister Rush to England. He was appointed to the frigate "Brandywine," of the Mediterranean squadron, in 1837, and was commissioned commander, 8 Sept., 1841. In 1845 he was appointed to the brig "Truxtun," on the African coast, capturing the slaver "Spitfire" during his cruise, and in 1848-'50 commanded the naval rendezvous at Boston, Mass. He was put on the reserved list, 13 Sept., 1855, commissioned commodore, 16 July, 1862. and retired, 4 April, 1867.

BRUCE, Wallace, lecturer, b. in Hillsdale, Columbia CO., N. Y., 10 Nov., 1844. He was graduated at Yale in 1867, and has lectured extensively before lyceums and associations on literary subjects, especially on Shakespeare, Scott, Burns, Irving, and Bryant. He has published "Land of Burns" (Boston, 1878); "Yosemite " (1879); "The Hudson" (1881); and "From the Hudson to the Yosemite " (New York, 1884).

BRUEN, Matthias, clergyman, b. in Newark, N. J., 11 April, 1793 ; d. In New York city, 6 Sept., 1829. He was fond of books, and when only six years old would sometimes lock himself in a room that he might read undisturbed. He was graduated at Columbia in 1812 and licensed to preach in 1816; but failing health forced him to travel in Europe for the next three years. He was ordained in London, 4 Nov., 1818, and took charge of the "American chapel of the oratory" in Paris for six months before returning to this country. After another visit to Europe in 1821, he became in 1822 a missionary in New York city, and as a result of his work the Bleecker street congregation was formally organized, 22 Aprils 1825. He was installed as its pastor on 14 June,- 1825, and held the office until his death. Mr. Bruen published "Essays descriptive of Scenes in Italy and France" (Edinburgh, 1822); a sermon on taking leave of his congregation in Paris (1819); a Thanksgiving sermon delivered at Woodbridge, N. J. (1821) ; and contributed to various periodicals. A memoir of him written by Mrs. Duncan, of Scotland, was published in New York in 1831.

BRÜHL, Gustavus, physician, b. in Herdorf, Prussia, 31 May, 1826. He studied at the colleges of Siegen, Münstereifel, and Treves, was graduated at the last named, and studied medicine at Munich, Halle, and Berlin. In 1848 he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio. He was physician of St. Mary's hospital, lecturer on laryngoscopy in Miami medical college, and one of the founders and first president of the Peter Claver society for the education of colored children. From 1869 till 1871 he edited the &ldquo;German Pioneer,&rdquo; and in 1871 was nominated by the democrats for state treasurer. In 1874 he was one of the examiners of public schools in Cincinnati. He has published &ldquo;Poesien des Urwalds&rdquo; (1871), and has written much for periodicals, both in prose and in verse.

BRUNEL, Alfred, Canadian engineer, b. in 1818. From 1844 till 1850 he was employed on various public works in Canada. He was superintendent of the Northern railway from 1853 till 1856, was a commissioner to inquire into the workings of the free ports of Gaspe and Sault Ste. Marie in 1862, and in 1863 he was appointed inspector of customs, excise, and canals, in 1869 assistant commissioner of inland revenue, and in 1871 commissioner of inland revenue. During the Fenian troubles he was in active service as lieutenant-colonel of the 10th royal regiment.

BRUNEL, Sir Mark Isambard, French engineer, b. in Hacqueville, near Rouen, France, 25 April, 1769 ; d. in London, England, 12 Dec, 1849. He became a sailor in 1786, made voyages to the West Indies, and in 1793 escaped from Prance for political reasons and settled in New York. He surveyed lands belonging to a French company, and in 1794 began the surveys for the Champlain canal. He was much employed as an engineer and architect in New York, where he built the Park theatre and took charge of the construction of fortifications in the harbor. He also conducted a cannon-foundry. His design for the national Capitol at Washington was rejected because it involved too great expense. After remaining many years in the United States he settled in England, where he invented machinery for cutting blocks used in the rigging of ships besides other useful devices, constructed the Thames tunnel and other works of engineering, and designed several important public buildings.

BRUNOT, Felix R., philanthropist, b. in Newport, Ky., 7 Feb., 1820 ; d. in Allegheny, Pa., 9 May, 1898. He was educated at Jefferson college, followed the profession of civil engineer, became a miller at Rock Island, Ill., and in 1847 returned to Pittsburg, where his early years had been spent, and purchased an interest in a steel furnace. He devoted his mind largely to benevolent schemes, and when the civil war began he went to the seat of war in charge of a corps of volunteer physicians, with medicines and comforts for the sick and wounded. In 1865 President Grant appointed him one of the commissioners to investigate Indian grievances. He was chosen president of the board, and spent five summers in visiting the tribes.