THOMAS LEWIS BRITTAIN. — English Dominican preacher and writer, born near Chester in 1744 and died at Hartbury C. (Gloucester) on 3 May 1827. Having converted from Protestantism at the age of sixteen, he studied in Picardy and later at Louvain. He entered the Dominicans at Bornhem in 1767, where he subsequently served as professor and regent of studies. In 1790 he obtained the mastership in theology. He served as prior first at Gloucester and then in London, and as provincial from 1814 to 1818.
A preacher, apologist, and professor of the humanities among English youth, he wrote: *Rudiments of English Grammar* (London 1790, a grammar that became a landmark); *Principles of the Christian Religion and Catholic Faith Investigated* (ibid. 1790); *The Divinity of Jesus Christ and Beatitudes of His Gospels* (ibid. 1822); *Collection of Poems Occasionally Written* (Cheltenham 1822).