Jacob Bryant, an English writer, born at Ptymouth in 1715, died at Cypenham, near Windsor, Nov. 14,1804. He graduated at Cambridge in 1740, and was tutor to the marquis of Blandford, subsequently duke of Marlborough. In 1756 he became the duke's secretary, and accompanied him during his command in Germany. After his return he received a lucrative appointment in the ordnance, and refused the mastership of the Charterhouse. He published in 1767 " Observations and Inquiries relating to various parts of Ancient History," wherein he discusses the most abstruse and curious questions. In 1774 appeared the first two volumes, followed in 1776 by a third, of his most elaborate work, "A New System or Analysis of Ancient Mythology, wherein an attempt is made to divest Tradition of Fable and to restore Truth to its Original Purity." In order to " divest tradition of fable," he called to his aid etymological deductions, endeavoring to glean historical facts from the affinities of language. In 1775 he published "A Vindication of the Apamean Medals." In 1780 appeared his Vindicica Flaviance, vindicating the testimony of Josephus concerning Christ. In the same year he entered upon a discussion with Priestley on the question of philosophical necessity; and in 1781 he published two volumes in which he endeavored to prove the authenticity of the Rowley poems of Chatterton. In 1796 he published a " Dissertation concerning the War of Troy," maintaining that no such war ever took place, and no such city ever existed.

His last literary labor was preparing for the press a volume of " Dissertations on various Subjects in the Old Testament".