The circumstances of Brands birth are unknown but he was born in 1630 and died  or 1710. Some sources describe his origins as humble and indicate that he had been an apprentice glassmaker as a young man. However, correspondence by his second wife Margaretha states that he was of high social standing. In any case he held a post as a junior army officer during the Thirty Years War and his first wife's dowry was substantial, allowing him to pursue alchemy on leaving the army.
He was one of the many searchers for the philosopher's stone. In the process, he accidentally discovered phosphorus.