...  was a teacher and player of the banjo who was born in Twillingate, Newfoundland, and came to England before 1871. He established a successful teaching connection in London and became well known for his public performances and contributions to fretted instrument publications.

He was the author of "The Brewster Banjoist" and compiled “Howard’s Banjo Tutor” and “Chappell's New Banjo 'Tutor”.   He was a skilled wood-worker and in 1873 set up a small workshop in London's Oxford Street with John E. Dallas (q.v.).

In 1884 he was described by SS Stewart as his "Sole Agent in England" at 20 Oxford Street.

In 1896 he was granted a patent pertaining to zither-banjo construction  in conjunction with  Richard Langham but all the banjos and zither banjos he sold bearing his name as maker were actually made for him in the workshops of John E. Dallas.

He died in Paris on August 15th, 1912.

Images of Brewster patent zither banjo courtesy of  David Buck