Brittain was born at Sheffield on 2 January 1806. He was educated at a private school. He was engaged during the greater part of his life as a professional accountant, but became interested in natural science, and was very skillful in the preparation of diagrams and in the mounting of objects for the microscope. In 1842, he moved to Manchester, where he spent the rest of his life. In some contributions to Axon's Field Naturalist,Manchester, 1882, p. 148 he told the story of his scientific studies from the time of his first microscope, which he obtained in 1834. In December 1858 he was one of the promoters of a Manchester Microscopical Society, which ultimately became a section of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society. When a second Manchester Microscopical Society - a more popular association - was established in 1879, he repeatedly held the office of vice-president, and was afterwards president. On his retirement, from failing health and advanced years, he was presented with an address at the Manchester Athenæum, 4 October 1883.
