Brashear, John Alfred
Brashear, John Alfred
(brəshēr`), 1840–1920, American maker of scientific instruments and educator, b. Brownsville, Pa. A mechanic by trade, he taught himself the art of making lenses and mirrors for telescopes. Aided by the encouragement of Samuel P. LangleyLangley, Samuel Pierpont,1834–1906, American scientist, b. Roxbury, Mass., received only a high school education but continued his studies in science in Boston libraries. He became, in 1866, professor of physics at the Western Univ. of Pennsylvania (now the Univ.
..... Click the link for more information. , he perfected his techniques. From 1880 he devoted himself to the business of making astronomical instruments and became noted in the field. Active also in many civic and educational projects, he contributed to the growth of the Allegheny Observatory of the Univ. of Pittsburgh and served as trustee and chancellor (1902–4) of the university.
Bibliography
See his autobiography (1924); biography by H. L. Gaul and R. Eiseman (1940).