John Brenan

Who was John Brenan?

John Brenan, was an Irish physician.

Brenan was born at Ballaghide, Carlow, Ireland, about 1768, was the youngest of six children. His father, a Roman Catholic, possessed some property. Brenan's earliest literary productions appear to have been epigrams and short poems, which he contributed to Dublin periodicals in 1793. He graduated as doctor of medicine in Glasgow, and established himself in that profession in Dublin about 1801.

For some time he was a contributor of verses in the 'Irish Magazine,' commenced in Dublin in 1807 by Walter Cox. Cox was tried in Dublin in 1812 for publishing a production in favour of a repeal of the union between Great Britain and Ireland, and condemned to stand in the pillory and to be imprisoned for twelve months. While Cox was in gaol under this sentence, Brenan quarrelled with him, went over to the opposite party, and started the 'Milesian Magazine, or Irish Monthly Gleaner.' The first number appeared in April 1812, and in it and subsequent issues he assailed Cox with great acerbity.

Brenan was ardently devoted to gymnastics, an expert wrestler, and occasionally showed symptoms of mental disorder.