The Curse Upon Mitre Square - Title Page

John Francis Brewer (November 25, 1864–June 15, 1921) was a late Victorian and Edwardian English novelist, journalist and organist.

Family and early life

Brewer was born in Kensington, London, on 25 November 1864. He was the eldest son of the architectural illustrator

Henry William Brewer Henry William Brewer (7 August 1836 – 6 October 1903) was a British illustrator, notable for his detailed city panoramas, held to be one of the most outstanding architectural draughtsmen of his day. Family and early life Brewer was born in ...

, and brother to the artists

Henry Charles Brewer Henry Charles Brewer (1866–1950) was a British painter well known in the first half of the 20th century for his watercolour landscapes and architectural paintings. Family and early life Born on 25 May 1866 in Wurzburg, Bavaria, Henry Charles ...

and

James Alphege Brewer James Alphege Brewer (1881–1946) was a well-known early 20th century producer of colour etchings - notably of English and European Cathedrals and churches and other scenes. Family and early life Brewer was born on 24 July 1881, in Kensingt ...

. Their grandfather was the historian

John Sherren Brewer John Sherren Brewer, Jr. (March 1809 – February 1879) was an English clergyman, historian and scholar. He was a brother of E. Cobham Brewer, compiler of ''Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable''. Birth and education Brewer was born in Norwic ...

and their great uncle was

E. Cobham Brewer Ebenezer Cobham Brewer (2 May 1810 in Norwich – 6 March 1897 in Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire), was a British lexicographer and the author of '' A Guide to the Scientific Knowledge of Things Familiar'', '' Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fabl ...

, compiler of ''Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase & Fable''. Brewer was educated at Kensington Catholic Public School and studied the organ privately with Robert Sutton-Sawby. In June 1905, Brewer married Katherine, née Fuller, the widow of the late Henry Edyvean-Walker, the Squire of Bilton, Rugby, at St Mary of the Angels, Bayswater church in London. She had three sons from her first marriage, and was reputed to be an organist herself. Brewer's father and paternal grandfather,

, were notable adherents of the Oxford Movement, inspired by

Augustus Pugin Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin ( ; 1 March 1812 – 14 September 1852) was an English architect, designer, artist and critic with French and Swiss origins. He is principally remembered for his pioneering role in the Gothic Revival architecture ...

and others.

and his family, including John Francis Brewer, became high-profile converts to the Roman Catholic Church.

Professional life

In 1881, at the age of just 18, Brewer was appointed as organist of the Jesuit

Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, also known as Farm Street Church, is a Catholic parish church run by the Society of Jesus in Mayfair, Central London, England. Its main entrance is in Farm Street, though it can also be acc ...

, Mayfair in London. He held the post until 1916, when he was succeeded by the Belgian Guy Weitz, a student of Widor and Guilmant. Brewer was also a composer. In additional to being an organist, Brewer was the author of "three very bright novels" (as described by the ‘Catholic Who’s Who and Year Book 1908’), including 'The Speculators: A Comedy' (1897) and an anonymous novel. Today he is best known for his 1888 short gothic novel, 'The Curse Upon Mitre Square', inspired by the

Whitechapel Murders The Whitechapel murders were committed in or near the impoverished Whitechapel District (Metropolis), Whitechapel district in the East End of London between 3 April 1888 and 13 February 1891. At various points some or all of these eleven unso ...

. The book was the first literary adaption of the Jack the Ripper murders, and was written and published at speed only weeks after

Catherine Eddowes Catherine Eddowes (14 April 1842 – 30 September 1888) was the fourth of the Jack the Ripper#Canonical five, canonical five victims of the notorious unidentified serial killer known as Jack the Ripper, who is believed to have killed and Mutila ...

was killed in

Mitre Square Mitre Square is a small square located in Aldgate inside the City of London. It measures about by and is connected via three passages with Mitre Street to the south west, to Creechurch Place to the north west and, via St James's Passage (for ...

. Inspired by the architectural scenes of ancient London by Brewer's father,

, Brewer Senior created a frontispiece for the book bearing his initials. The book remains in print. Brewer contributed articles, including music criticism, to a number of magazines. In 1887 and 1888 he collaborated with the editor of

The Girl's Own Paper ''The Girl's Own Paper'' (''G.O.P.'') was a British story paper catering to girls and young women, published from 1880 until 1956. Publishing history The first weekly number of ''The Girl's Own Paper'' appeared on 3 January 1880. As with its m ...

, Charles Peters, describing trips they had taken together which appeared in the publication. These included trips to Norway, Northern Italy (1887) and Central Italy (1888). Brewer died on 15 June 1921.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brewer, John Francis 1864 births 1921 deaths 19th-century English novelists 19th-century English journalists English male journalists English organists People from Kensington Writers from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Musicians from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea English male novelists Writers of Gothic fiction