(Henry), one of the greatest mathematicians in the 16th century, was born at Warley Wood in the parish of Halifax in Yorkshire, in 1556. In 1592, he was made examiner and lecturer in mathematics, and soon after reader of the physic lecture founded by Dr Linacer. When Gresham college in London was established, he was chosen the first professor of geometry there, about the beginning of March 1596. In 1609, Mr Briggs contracted an intimacy with the learned Mr James Usher afterwards archbishop of Armagh, which continued many years by letters, two of which, written by our author, are yet extant. In one of these letters, dated in August 1610, he tells his friend he was engaged in the subject of eclipses; and in the other, dated March 16th 1615, he acquaints him with his being wholly employed about the noble invention of logarithms, then lately discovered, in the improvement of which he had afterwards a large share. In 1619, he was made Savilian professor of geometry at Oxford; and resigned his professorship of Gresham college on the 25th of July 1620. Soon after his going to Oxford, he was incorporated master of arts in that university; where he continued till his death, which happened on the 26th of January 1630. Dr Smith gives him the character of a man of great probity; a contemner of riches, and contented with his own station; preferring a studious retirement to all the splendid circumstances of life. He wrote, 1. Logarithmorum chilias prima. 2. Arithmetica logarithmica. 3. Trigonometria Britannica. 4. A small tract on the north-west passage; and some other works.

(William), an eminent physician in the latter end of the 17th century, was the son of Augustin Briggs, Esq; four times member for the city of Norwich, where our author was born. He studied at the university of Cambridge; and his genius leading him to the study of physic, he travelled into France, where he attended the lectures of the famous anatomist M. Vieussens, at Montpelier. After his return, he published his Ophthalmographia in 1676. The year following he was created doctor of medicine at Cambridge, and soon after was made fellow of the college of physicians at London. In 1682, he quitted his fellowship to his brother; and the same year, his Theory of vision was published by Hooke. The ensuing year he sent to the royal society a continuation of that discourse, which was published in their Transactions; and the same year, he was by King Charles II. appointed physician to St Thomas's hospital. In 1684, he communicated to the royal society two remarkable cases relating to vision, which were likewise printed in their Transactions; and in 1685, he published a Latin version of his Theory of vision, at the desire of Mr Newton, afterwards Sir Isaac, professor of mathematics at Cambridge, with a recommendatory epistle from him prefixed to it. He was afterwards made physician in ordinary to king William, and continued in great esteem for his skill in his profession till he died September 4th 1704.