Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume III.djvu/319

 BRONGNIART BRONTE 313 BRONCXIART. I. Alexandra Theodore, a French architect, born in Paris, Feb. 15, 1739, died there, June 6, 1815. He was the son of an apothecary, and at first studied medicine, but afterward became a pupil of Boulee, a noted architect of the day, whom he soon surpassed. He constructed many public and private edi- fices, designed and laid out the park of Mau- pertuis, and made numerous designs for orna- ments, vases, and furniture. Toward the end of his career he was appointed architect of the Bourse and of Pere-la-Chaise. II. Antoine Lonis, a French chemist, brother of the preceding, died in Paris, Feb. 24, 1804. He was apothe- cary to Louis XVI., professor at the college of pharmacy, afterward professor of chemistry applied to the arts, and the colleague of Four- croy at the lyceum of the republic, and also at the jardin des plantes. During a portion of the revolutionary period he was apothecary to the army. He wrote much in the journals of science, and published some important papers on chemistry; among others, Tableau analy- tique des combinations et des decompositions de differentes substances (Paris, 1778). III. Alex- andra, a French chemist and geologist, son of the architect, born in Paris, Feb. 5, 1770, died there in October, 1847. He was early trained to scientific pursuits, and at the age of 20 was occupied in studying the best means of improv- ing the art of enamelling. He was afterward engaged in the medical department of the army, and in 1800 was appointed director of the manufactory of porcelain at Sevres. In 1807 he published a treatise on mineralogy, which became a standard work. He was also ap- pointed professor of mineralogy at the jardin des plantes. He undertook the classification of reptiles, described the trilobites, and assisted Cuvier in the study of the fossil remains of extinct types, by exploring the geological for- mation of Montmartre and its fossil treasures ; their joint labors being published in the cele- brated Description geologique de$ environs de Paris. He travelled over the northern and southern parts of Europe, and was the first to give the world, in his Tableau des terrains qui composent Vecorce du globe (Paris, 1829), an accurate chronological account of the different superficial strata of the earth's crust. He was elected member of the academy of sciences in 1815, and was connected with the progress of the physical sciences in nearly all their branches during 40 years. In 1845 he published Traite des arts ceramiques, which is deemed the best work of the kind ever written. IV. Adolphe Theodore, a French botanist, son of the preced- ing, born in Paris, Jan. 14, 1801. He first studied medicine, and received his diploma in 1826, but afterward turned his attention to the physiology of plants and antediluvian phytolo- gy. In 1834 he was elected a member of the academy of sciences, as successor to Desfon- taines ; and in 1839 professor of botany at the museum of natural history in Paris. His researches have been various, and his writings on fossil vegetables and other branches of his favorite science are numerous. BRONNER, Johann Philipp, a German writer on wines, born at Neckargemiind, near Heidel- berg, in 1792, died at Wiesloch, Dec. 4, 1865. He studied pharmacy, and in 1816 became an apothecary at Wiesbaden, where he devoted himself to the natural sciences and the culture of the vine. In 1831 he established a school for instruction in viniculture. Subsequently, under a commission from the government of Baden, he travelled through Switzerland, Italy, Tyrol, Austria, Moravia, Hungary, Styria, and Bavaria, to investigate this branch of agricul- ture. Between 1830 and 1857 he published 14 treatises relating to wine and its production. BRONTE, a town of Sicily, in the province of Catania, near the western base of Mt. Etna, 22 m. N. N. W. of Catania ; pop. about 12,000. It has a number of churches, convents, a semi- nary, manufactures of woollens and paper, and trade in wine, oil, silk, grain, and fruits. In 1799 the Neapolitan government conferred the title of duke of Bronte, with a revenue of about $18,700 per annum, upon Lord Nelson. The town suffered from an earthquake in 1832. BRONTE, Charlotte (" Currer Bell "), an English novelist, born at Thornton, Yorkshire, April 21, 1816, died at Haworth, March 31, 1855. She was the daughter of the Rev. Patrick Bronte, a native of Ireland, who shortly before her birth became curate of Thornton church, and in 1820 minister of Haworth. She lost her mother at the age of five. Owing to her father's narrow means, the family were early inured to industry and self-denial, and being, by the habits and circumstances of the place, in a great degree cut off from the ordinary pleasures of childhood, they were accustomed to occupations and amusements beyond their years. In 1824 Charlotte and three of her sis- ters, Maria, Elizabeth, and Emily, were put to a school at a place called Cowan's Bridge. The situation proved to be unhealthy, and Maria and Elizabeth died the following year from disease contracted there. The hardships suffer- ed at this school from scanty food and severe discipline furnished to a considerable extent the theme of " Jane Eyre." In the autumn of 1825 Charlotte and Emily left the school, and for several years lived at home. During this period Charlotte had the care of the younger members of the family ; she spent much of her time in writing, and manifested a development of mind and a compass and facility of thought remarkable in a girl of her age. In the win- ter of 1831 she was again put to school at a place called Roe Head, where she continued nearly two years. Here she was free from discomforts, save what grew from a tenden- cy to despondency. She cared nothing for play ; was quiet and studious, often confound- ing her schoolmates by knowing things quite out of their range ; and sometimes exercised her genius in telling stories for their entertain- ment. In 1835 she reentered the school as a