Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/435

 BRIGHT.

BRINKERHOFF.

eleven years old, immigrated to America and settled in Utica, N. Y. Here Edward learned the trade of a printer and afterwards engaged in the publishing business, the firm name being Bennett & Bright. At this time he was a prominent Sunday school worker, and he became a Baptist minister, taking pastoral charge of the Bethel church in Utica, organized in 1838. In 1839 he sold his share in the pubHshing business, resigned the Utica pastorate, and removed to Homer, N. Y., where he took charge of the historic First church. In 1846, he was elected secretary of the American baptist missionary union, editing in connection with his other duties the Missionary Magazine. In 1855 he removed to New York city, purchased the Recorder and Register, and changed the name to Tlie Examiner. Two papers called the Chronicle, one published in New York and the other in Philadolphia, were afterwards merged in The Examiner, and Dr. Bright ably filled the editorial chair until June, 1893, when failing health compelled him to relin- quish the responsible post. Dr. Bright was presi- dent of the board of trustees of the University of Rochester, a trustee of Vassar college, and presi- dent of the New York state missionary conven- tion. He died in New York city, May 17, 1894.

BRIGHT, Jesse D., senator, was born at Nor- wich. Chenango county, N. Y., Dec. 18, 1812. He removed to Indiana with his parents in 1820, where he received an academic education and began the practice of law. He was elected pro- bate judge in 1834, but resigned in 1838 to become United States marshal. He was sent to the state legislature as a representative in 1836; chosen a state senator in 1841 ; lieutenant-governor in 1843, and in 1845 was elected to the U. S. senate as a Democrat. He was twice re-elected to the senate, serving nearly eighteen years. In 1862. a letter addressed to President Davis, dated March, 1861, recommending to liim a friend who had an improved firearm, and signed by Senator Bright, fell into the possession of the senate, and for this he was charged with disloyalty and expelled. In 1864 he removed to Kentucky, where he served for several terms in the state legislature. He died in Baltimore. Md.. May 20, 1875.

BRIGHT, Jonathan Brown, genealogical writer, was born at Waltham, Mass., April 23, 1800. He received an academic education in his native state, and in 1816 went to Missouri, remain- ing there and in Alabama for several years. From 1823 to 1849 he was engaged in business in. New York city, where he accumulated a considerable fortime. The last thirty years of his life were passed in Waltham, where he wrote a clear and comprehensive work entitled: "The Brights of Suflfolk. England, represented in America by the Descendants of Henry Bright, Jr., who settled at

Watertown, Mass., about 1630 " (1858). A legacy of §50,000 was left to Harvard college at his death, one half of the income to provide books for the Ubrary, and the other to pay for scholarships, of which the lineally descended Brights, from Henry Bright, Jr., should have the preference. He died in Waltham, Mass., Dec. 17, 1879.

BRIGHT, Marshal Huntington, joumaUst, was born in Hudson, N. Y., in 1834. He received an academical training and then took a chemical course in the Lawrence scientific school. Harvard university, from 1852 to 1854. He became asso- ciate editor of the AXhanj Argus in 1854. He entered the Union service in the civil war in 1861, serving as aide-de-camp and as commissary on the staffs successively of Generals Robert Ander- son, Don Carlos Buell and George H. Thomas. For distinguished service he was promoted major in 1864, and resigned in November, 1865. He was engaged in mining and banking from 1865 to 1873, when he became associate editor of the Christian at TT'o?'A:, and in 1880 principal editor. He was president of the Quill club. New York, in 1890. In 1894 he wrote, in connection with Hamilton W. Mabie, " The Memorial Story of America."

BRIGNOLl, Pasquale, singer, was born in Naples, Italy, in 1824. He displayed remarkable musical talent in his early childhood, and wrote several compositions of merit when he was very young. He possessed a beautiful tenor voice, but did not begin to have it trained until 1845. Ten years later, after winning much favorable com- ment as a concert and opera singer, he came to America, where he remained during the rest of his life, making but few visits to Eiu-ope. He re- tained the remarkable sweetness of liis voice as long as he lived, and was always greeted by large* and enthusiastic audiences. Among the notable singers with whom he appeared may be named Nilsson, Patti, Parepa and Titiens. He died in New York city, Oct. 30. 1884.

BRINKERHOFF, Roeliff, philanthropist, was born at Owasco, Cayiiga covmty, N. Y., Jan. 28, 1828, son of George R. Brinkerhoff, an ofl[icer of the war of 1812. His first American ancestor, Joris Dericksen Brinkerhoff, emigrated from Holland in 1638 and settled on Long Island, N. Y., upon the site of the city of Brooklyn. RoeUflf was educated at the academies of Auburn and Homer, N. Y. In 1844 he taught school in his native town ; in 1846 he was a tutor in the family of Andrew Jackson, Jr.. at the Hermitage in Tennessee ; in 1850 he removed to Mansfield. Ohio, studied law with the Hon. Jacob Brinkerhoff, and in 1852 was adniitted to the bar and engaged in the practice of his profession. During four years he was one of the editors and proprietors of the Mansfield Herald. In September, 1861, he