About John Brashear
John Alfred Brashear (November 24, 1840 – April 8, 1920) was an American astronomer and instrument builder. As a young boy, John Brashear was profoundly influenced by his maternal grandfather, Nathanial Smith, who was a clock repairer. His father, Basil Brown Brashear, worked as a saddler, while his mother, Julia Smith Brashear, was a school teacher. This formative experience of viewing the moon and the planet Saturn stayed with Brashear throughout his life.
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