The Story of

John A. Brashear

The Man

"Uncle John," as he was known to thousands of his neighbors and friends was born

of humble parents in Brownsville, Pennsylvania.  He obtained a third grade education, but later became Chancellor of Western University of Pennsylvania (later the University of Pittsburgh).  In 1915 the governor of the state named him the "greatest Pennsylvanian".

At the age of nine John Brashear became interested in the stars and was known worldwide for his abilities in optics.  His many accomplishments in this area are celebrated and renown.  He was the first to build a bolemeter to measure radiant energy.  He was also the first to grind prisms from rock salt, and the first to build a stellar spectroscope which had the accuracy of 1/500,000th of an inch.  He also built the interferometer used by the United States Bureau of Weights and Measurements.  He designed a rotating mirror with no deviation of surface.  (This was later to be used as a basis for Einstein's Theory of Relativity)  These and other accomplishments led to his worldwide prominence.

At the age of 58 John A. Brashear became a member of Guyasuta Lodge # 513 in the year 1899.

Brother John Brashear and his wife Phoebe Stewart built a home on the South Side  overlooking the steel mill where John worked as one of the most skilled millwrights in Pittsburgh.

Such people as Charles Schwab, Rear Admiral Perry, Alexander Graham Bell, and Henry Clay Frick attended his 75th. birthday.  He had received over 30,000 cards to recognize the happy day.  Unfortunately Uncle John was too ill to attend that celebration in 1919.  One year later he passed away.

For a more in depth story of the life of John A. Brashear I recommend you read an essay "John A. Brashear: Pittsburgh's Forgotten Hero" a chapter in the book called Only in Pittsburgh by S. Trevor Hadley -1994.  A copy is available in our Lodge Library and local bookstores.

We also highly recommend you visit the John Brashear Foundation in Pittsburgh.  Go to  www.brashearassociation.org   A very worthwhile visit.