BROMFIELD, John, merchant, born in New-buryport, Massachusetts, 11 April, 1779; died in Boston, 8 December, 1849. He acquired a fortune as an agent in Europe for American houses, and as a merchant in Canton, which he increased by investments in Boston. He was a benefactor of various charitable institutions and of the Boston athenaeum, to which he made a gift of $25,000. A volume of "Reminiscences of John Bromfield " was published at Salem in 1852.--His ancestor, EDWARD, came from England in 1675 and was a member of the council.--Edward (born in 1695; died 10 April, 1756), son of the latter, was an eminent citizen and member of the general court; and Edward, his son (born in 1723; died 18 August, 1746), was a young man of remarkable mechanical and scientific genius, who constructed an organ and made microscopes of improved magnifying powers.