Chapter Bruce to Buchanan of B by Biographical Dictionary of English Literature

Bruce to Buchanan

Bruce, James (1730-1794).—Traveller, was born at the family seat of Kinnaird, Perthshire, and educated at Harrow. After various travels in Europe he set out in 1768 on his expedition to Abyssinia, and in 1770 reached the source of the Blue Nile. He returned to England in 1774, and in 1790 published his Travels in 5 quarto vols. His notorious vanity, the singular adventures he related, and the generally embellished character which he imparted to his narrative excited some degree of scepticism, and he was subjected to a good deal of satire, to which, though much annoyed, he did not reply. It is, however, generally allowed that he had shown great daring, perseverance, and zeal in his explorations, and that he made a real addition to the geographical knowledge of his day.

Bruce, Michael (1746-1767).—Poet, son of a poor weaver at Kinnesswood, Kinross-shire, as a child herded cattle, but received a good education, including 4 sessions at the University of Edinburgh, and for a short time kept a school. His longest poem, Loch Leven, shows the influence of Thomson. His best is his Elegy. His promising career was cut short by consumption in 1767. The authorship of the beautiful Ode to the Cuckoo beginning “Hail, beauteous stranger of the grove” is contested, some authorities claiming it for Bruce and others for the Rev. John Logan (q.v.), who edited Bruce’s works, adding some of his own, and who claimed the Ode as his.

Brunton, Mary (Balfour) (1778-1818).—Novelist, daughter of Col. Balfour of Elwick, and married to the Rev. Dr. Brunton, Professor of Oriental Languages in the University of Edinburgh, was the authoress of two novels, Self-Control (1811) and Discipline (1814), which were popular in their day.

Bryant, Jacob (1715-1804).—Scholar, educated at Eton and Cambridge, wrote learnedly, but paradoxically, on mythological and Homeric subjects. His chief works were A New System or Analysis of Ancient Mythology (1774-76), Observations on the Plain of Troy (1795), and Dissertation concerning the Wars of Troy (1796). In the last two he endeavoured to show that the existence of Troy and the Greek expedition were fabulous. Though so sceptical on these points he was an implicit believer in the authenticity of the Rowley authorship of Chatterton’s fabrications. He also wrote on theological subjects.

Bryant, William Cullen (1794-1878).—Poet, was born at Cummington, Massachusetts, the son of a doctor. His ancestors on both sides came over in the Mayflower. His first poem was Thana topsis (1817), which was greeted as the best poem produced in America up to that time. After being a lawyer for some time he was induced to exchange law for journalism, and acted as editor of various periodicals. Among his best known poems are Lines to a Water-fowl, The Rivulet, The West Wind, The Forest Hymn, The Fringed Gentian, etc. His muse is tender and graceful, pervaded by a contemplative melancholy, and a love of solitude and the silence of the woods. Though he was brought up to admire Pope, and in his early youth imitated him, he was one of the first American poets to throw off his influence. He had a high sense of duty, was a prominent and patriotic citizen, and enjoyed the esteem and even the reverence of his fellow-countrymen. Bryant also produced a blankverse translation of the Iliad and the Odyssey.

Brydges, Sir Samuel Egerton (1762-1837).—Bibliographer and genealogist, educated at Cambridge, was called to the Bar in 1787. He wrote some novels and poems, now forgotten, but rendered valuable service by his bibliographical publications, Censura Literaria, Titles and Opinions of Old English Books (10 vols. 1805-9), his editions of E. Phillips’s Theatrum Poetarum Anglicanorum (1800) Collin’s Peerage of England (1812), and of many rare Elizabethan authors. He was made a baronet in 1814. He died at Geneva.

Buchanan, George (1506-1582).—Historian and scholar born at Killearn, Stirlingshire, of poor parents, was sent in 1519, with the help of an uncle, to the University of Paris, where he first came in contact with the two great influences of the age, the Renaissance and the Reformation. His uncle having died, he had to leave Paris, and after seeing some military service, returned to Scotland, and in 1524 went to St. Andrews, where he studied under John Major (q.v.). Two years later he found means to return to Paris, where he graduated at the Scots College in 1528, and taught grammar in the College of St. Barbe. Returning to Scotland in 1536 with a great reputation for learning he was made by James V.