Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/449

Rh in 1815 with the object of interesting the French church in the American mission, and also of bringing over his valuable library of more than 5,000 volumes, which he presented to St. Mary's college. After spending two years as president of St. Mary's, he returned to Emmittsburg, where, in addition to his pastoral duties, he lectured on sacred Scripture, and was professor of theology and moral philosophy in the ecclesiastical seminary, and taught natural philosophy and various other branches in the college. Here he was consulted by the clergy and bishops of America on the most abstruse subjects, and it is doubtful if any priest has since exercised the same influence over the entire Catholic church of the United States. The see of Vincennes, comprising Indiana and the greater part of Illinois, was created in 1833, and Father Brute was nominated its first bishop. Being struck on his first visit to his diocese by its impoverished condition and dearth of priests, he went to France, hoping to secure both money and missionaries, and was successful, but returned in failing health. He employed the money he had collected in Europe in establishing a diocesan seminary at Vincennes, as well as an orphan asylum and free school. The surplus he devoted to the erection of his cathedral, and of small churches in other parts of his diocese. He afterward crossed the ocean eight times to obtain resources for carrying on his mission. When he entered his diocese he had but two priests; when he died he left twenty-four. He built twenty-three churches, one theological seminary, one college for young men, one female academy, and two free schools. He also established two religious communities, and he did all this without incurring debt or leaving a mortgage.

BRUYAS, Jaques, missionary, b. in the 17th century. He went from Lyons to New France in 1666, and reached Quebec Aug. 3 of that year. He became chief of the Iroquois missions in 1671, and superior of his order in 1693. In 1700 he was instrumental in securing a treaty of peace with the Five Nations, which lasted more than half a century. This treaty was formally ratified the following year, and Bruyas attended the ceremonies. He wrote several books in the Mohawk language, including a dictionary and a catechism.

BRYAN, George, jurist, b in Dublin, Ireland, in 1731; d. in Philadelphia, Pa., 27 Jan., 1791. He came to this country in early life, and was engaged some years in commercial pursuits in Philadelphia. He was a member of the state assembly, and in 1765 was a delegate to the stamp-act congress, in which, and in the subsequent struggle, he took an active part. He was vice-president of the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania from the period of the Declaration of Independence, and in May, 1778, was advanced to the presidency. In November of that year he sent a message to the assembly, pressing upon their attention a bill proposed by the council in 1777 for the gradual abolition of slavery in the state. "In divesting the state of slaves," said he, "you will equally serve the cause of humanity and policy, and offer to God one of the most proper and best returns of gratitude for his great deliverance of us and our posterity from thraldom." In 1779 Bryan was elected to the legislature. On his motion the subject was referred to a committee, of which he himself was a member, and he prepared the draft of a law for gradual emancipation. He was appointed a judge of the state supreme court in 1780. and remained in that office until his death. In 1784 he was elected one of the council of censors. He strenuously opposed the adoption of the federal constitution.

BRYAN, Mary Edwards, author, b. in Jefferson co., Fla., in 1846. Her father was Maj. John D. Edwards, an early settler in Florida, and a member of the legislature. She was married at sixteen years of age, and, while still at school, to Mr. Bryan, a wealthy Louisianian. Mrs. Bryan began to write for publication at an early age, and, after acting for a year as literary editor of the "Literary and Temperance Crusader," a weekly journal published in Atlanta, Ga., became a regular contributor to the "Southern Field and Fireside." After the war she became editor of the "Semi- Weekly, Times," published in Natchitoches, La., writing political leading articles as well as stories, sketches, and poems. She left this place to assume control of the "Sunny South," an eight-page illustrated paper published in Atlanta, Ga., which she edited for ten years. In 1885 she became assistant editor of the "Fashion Bazar" and "Fireside Companion " in New York. She has published several novels: "Manch " (New York, 1879); "Wild Work," a story of the reconstruction period in Louisiana (1881); and "The Bayou Bride" and "Kildee" (1886).

BRYAN, Thomas Jefferson, art collector, b. in Philadelphia, Pa., about 1800; d. at sea, between Havre and New York, 15 May, 1870. He was graduated at Harvard in 1823. and studied law, but gave much of his time to foreign travel, and to forming a valuable collection of paintings, which he bequeathed to the New York historical society. His favorite work was a beautiful face and figure by Greuze, which was always hung so that it should be the first object that met his gaze on awakening in the morning. The handsome old man called it his wife, having no other.

BRYANT, Edwin, pioneer, b. in Massachusetts in 1805; d. in Louisville, Ky., in 1869. Before 1846 he was for some time a journalist in Kentucky. In the summer of that year, chiefly with a view to travelling, he acted as leader of a party of emigrants from Missouri to California. While various parties had gone overland to California since 1841, the large numbers and the critical circumstances of this emigration gave it much historical importance. The conquest of California by Fremont, Sloat, and Stockton passed through its early stages while the emigrants of 1846 were on the way. They arrived, therefore, to find the supposed Mexican territory, which they had gone to seek, already a province of their own country. But they were just in time to give much-needed aid in suppressing the disturbances of the winter of 1846-'7; and, by virtue of their numbers and energy, they took thenceforth an important part in all the pioneer life of California. The emigration of 1846 deserved, therefore, a chronicler, and Bryant did this service, describing the overland journey, the explorations undertaken by the way, the conditions just succeeding the conquest, as observed on his arrival, the life of the California battalion under Fremont during the suppression of the revolt of the winter of 1846-'7, and his own experiences as alcalde in the San Francisco district. He added a general summary of such portions of the conquest history as he had not personally witnessed, and gave a good geographical sketch of the country. His book was published under the title "What I Saw in California" (New York, 1848). Bryant, after serving as alcalde, returned east with Gen. Kearny, was witness at the Fremont court-martial, and, after 1849, attracted by the gold excitement, once more lived for a time in California, being prominent as a politician. His later life was passed in Kentucky.