Edward Brerewood
Edward Brerewood (or Bryerwood) (c. 1565–1613) was an English scholar and antiquary. He was a mathematician and logician, and wrote an influential book on the origin of languages. Life. He was son of Robert Brerewood, a wetglover, three times mayor of Chester, and was born and educated there at The King's School. In 1581 he was sent to Brasenose College, Oxford, graduating B.A. 15 February 1587, and M.A. 9 July 1590. Then he migrated to St. Mary Hall, and on 26 September 1592, when Queen Elizabeth was at Oxford, he replied at a disputation in natural philosophy . In March 1596 he was chosen the first Gresham Professor of Astronomy in London. Brerewood, who was a member of the Old Society of Antiquaries, died on 4 November 1613, and was buried in the church of Great St. Helen. His library he bequeathed with his other effects to his nephew Robert Brerewood, a son of his elder brother, John Brerewood. He is related to Thomas Brerewood (c.1670 – 22 December 1746), the grandson of Sir Robert Brerewood. Writings and influence. "Enquiries touching the diversity of languages and religions, through the chief parts of the world" (1614) was published after his  death by Robert Brerewood. There was a French translation in 1640 that attracted the attention of Richard Simon. In 1655 the text was translated into German by Wilhelm Smeeth. Brerewood proposed in it that the Native Americans were descendants of the Tartars; with that, he rejected the theory of Guillaume Postel identifying the Tartars as descending from the Lost Tribes. Influentially, he tried to quantify Christians in the world, giving figures 19 parts heathen, 6 parts Muslim and 5 parts Christian by population, from 30 parts in all. These figures were still being quoted by John Wesley, well over a  century later. "A learned treatise of the Sabbath" took up a criticism of strict Sabbatarianism against Nicholas Byfield. According to Christopher Hill, "No one penetrated so deeply into the social issues involved in the Sabbatarian controversy". Works. His works are: