Margaret Bryan (philosopher)
Encyclopedia
Margaret Bryan was a British natural philosopher and educator, and the author of standard scientific textbooks.
The year of Bryan's birth is uncertain, probably before 1760, her published works are dated 1797 to 1815. Bryan was a beautiful
and talented schoolmistress, and the wife of a Mr. Bryan. In 1797 she published in 4to, by subscription, a Compendious System of Astronomy, with a portrait of herself and two daughters as a frontispiece, the whole engraved by Nutter from a miniature by Samuel Shelley
. Mrs. Bryan dedicated her book to her pupils. The lectures of which the book consisted had been praised by Charles Hutton
, then at Woolwich. An 8vo edition of the work was issued later. The Critical Review
printed her reply to what she saw as a damaging article in that journal.
In 1806 Mrs. Bryan published, also by subscription, and in 4to, Lectures on Natural Philosophy (thirteen lectures on hydrostatics, optics, pneumatics, acoustics), with a portrait of the authoress, engraved by Heath, after a painting by T. Kearsley; and there is a notice in it that "Mrs. Bryan educates young ladies at Bryan House] Blackheath" In 1815 Mrs. Bryan produced an Astronomical and Geographical Class Book for Schools, a thin 8vo. Conversations on Chemistry, published anonymously in 1806, is also ascribed to her by Watt and in the Biographical Dictionary of Living Authors (1816).
Mrs. Bryan's school appears to have been situated at one time at Blackheath, at another at 27 Lower Cadogan Place, near Hyde Park Corner, and lastly at Margate.
The year of Bryan's birth is uncertain, probably before 1760, her published works are dated 1797 to 1815. Bryan was a beautiful
Beauty
Beauty is a characteristic of a person, animal, place, object, or idea that provides a perceptual experience of pleasure, meaning, or satisfaction. Beauty is studied as part of aesthetics, sociology, social psychology, and culture...
and talented schoolmistress, and the wife of a Mr. Bryan. In 1797 she published in 4to, by subscription, a Compendious System of Astronomy, with a portrait of herself and two daughters as a frontispiece, the whole engraved by Nutter from a miniature by Samuel Shelley
Samuel Shelley
Samuel Shelley was an English miniaturist and watercolour painter.Largely self-educated, Samuel Shelley was a leading miniaturist, i.e., painter of portrait miniatures, of his time, ranking with Cosway, Smart, and Crosse. In addition to his portraits, he also painted in water-colours fancy figures...
. Mrs. Bryan dedicated her book to her pupils. The lectures of which the book consisted had been praised by Charles Hutton
Charles Hutton
Charles Hutton was an English mathematician.Hutton was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne. He was educated in a school at Jesmond, kept by Mr Ivison, a clergyman of the Church of England...
, then at Woolwich. An 8vo edition of the work was issued later. The Critical Review
The Critical Review
The Critical Review was first edited by Tobias Smollett from 1756 to 1763, and was contributed to by Samuel Johnson, David Hume, John Hunter, and Oliver Goldsmith, until 1817....
printed her reply to what she saw as a damaging article in that journal.
In 1806 Mrs. Bryan published, also by subscription, and in 4to, Lectures on Natural Philosophy (thirteen lectures on hydrostatics, optics, pneumatics, acoustics), with a portrait of the authoress, engraved by Heath, after a painting by T. Kearsley; and there is a notice in it that "Mrs. Bryan educates young ladies at Bryan House] Blackheath" In 1815 Mrs. Bryan produced an Astronomical and Geographical Class Book for Schools, a thin 8vo. Conversations on Chemistry, published anonymously in 1806, is also ascribed to her by Watt and in the Biographical Dictionary of Living Authors (1816).
Mrs. Bryan's school appears to have been situated at one time at Blackheath, at another at 27 Lower Cadogan Place, near Hyde Park Corner, and lastly at Margate.