David Brewster, Scientist, Inventor (Including the Kaleidoscope) Died

David Brewster, the Scottish scientist and inventor known for his contributions to optics and his invention of the kaleidoscope, died on February 10, 1868, in Allerby, Melrose, Scotland.

Brewster was a prolific scientist whose work spanned various fields, including optics, physics, and mathematics. He made significant contributions to the study of light, polarization, and the properties of lenses and prisms. One of his most famous inventions, the kaleidoscope, was patented in 1817 and became immensely popular as a toy and a scientific instrument.

In addition to his work on the kaleidoscope, Brewster is also known for Brewster’s angle, Brewster’s law, and Brewster’s stereoscope, among other discoveries and inventions. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of London and served as its president from 1849 to 1850.

David Brewster’s contributions to science and optics continue to be celebrated, and he is remembered as one of the leading scientists of the 19th century. His inventions and discoveries have had a lasting impact on various fields of science and technology.