David Brewster

Sir David Brewster was a Scottish physicist and scientist renowned for his experimental work in optics, particularly the discovery of Brewster's angle and the phenomenon of photoelasticity, which founded the field of optical mineralogy. He was also an inventor of the kaleidoscope, an improver of the stereoscope, and served as Principal of both the University of St Andrews and the University of Edinburgh. Dubbed the 'Father of modern experimental optics' by William Whewell, he was knighted in 1831 for his contributions to science.