Brown, Robert

Epithet: of Streatham

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001123.0x000331

Robert Brown was born in Cairo, Egypt, on 29 July 1908. He was educated at the English School, Cairo, and at Skinner's School, Tunbridge Wells, and then studied at the S. E. Agricultural College, Kent, graduating with degree of B.Sc. Agric. He then studied at the Honours School of Botany at Imperial College, University of London, graduating in 1930, before going on to do his Ph.D., 1940. Brown was an Assistant Lecturer in Botany at Manchester University, 1940-1944, Lecturer in Botany at Bedford College, London, 1944-1946, and Reader in Plant Physiology, Leeds University, 1946-1942. He was then Professor of Botany at Cornell University, New York State, 1952-1953, and Director of the Agricultural Research Council Unit of Plant Cell Physiology, Oxford, 1953-1958, before his appointment as Regius Professor of Botany at Edinburgh University, 1958-1977. It was Brown who had been responsible for moving the Department of Botany from the Royal Botanic Garden to King's Buildings. Professor Robert Brown who had latterly been Emeritus Professor, died on 13 July 1999.

From the guide to the Papers of Professor Robert Brown (1908-1999), 20th century, (Edinburgh University Library)

Epithet: of the Agricultural College

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001219.0x0000d8

Robert Brown worked with the Pacific Ocean Biological Survey Program during the 1960's. His materials can be found in Smithsonian Institution Archive 000245.

Smithsonian Institution Archives Field Book Project: Person : Description : rid_208_pid_EACP205

Epithet: geographer

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000704.0x0002e4

Epithet: LL.D

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000704.0x0002e5

Epithet: editor of the ' Macclesfield Courier.'

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000704.0x0002e2

Epithet: Dr of the British Museum

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000299.0x0000d5

Epithet: of Hamilton Lanark

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000758.0x000046

Epithet: Master of the Stationers' Co

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000704.0x0002e6

Epithet: MP

Title: Baronet

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000704.0x00035f

Epithet: of Westminister

Title: 1st Baronet

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000704.0x00035e

Robert Brown was born on 23 March 1842 at Campster, Caithness in Scotland. In 1861, he interrupted his medical studies at the University of Edinburgh to join the British Whaling and Scientific Expedition (leader George Deuchars) as surgeon and naturalist, sailing in Narwhal to Iceland, Svalbard, Greenland and Baffin Bay and entering Lancaster Sound. Further opportunity for travel arose when Brown was appointed seed collector for the British Columbia Botanical Association of Edinburgh in 1863. The following year, he accepted the position of commander and government agent on the Vancouver Island Exploring Expedition, organized by a committee of prominent Victoria businessmen. The expedition succeeded in crossing Vancouver Island at several points, in some instances by new routes, and discovered gold on a river named after Peter John Leech, the second in command, and coal on a river named after Brown. Brown later travelled in Washington Territory, Oregon, the Queen Charlotte Islands, and northern Vancouver Island.

In 1867, Brown was appointed naturalist on the British Exploring Expedition (leader Edward Whymper), travelling to Greenland in an unsuccessful attempt to cross the interior with dog sledges. He and Whymper succeeded in collecting botanical specimens on the shores of Vaigat. After the expedition, he returned to Scotland where he was successively a lecturer on natural science in the High School and in the School of Arts of Edinburgh, and in the Mechanics Institute of Glasgow. In 1870, he was awarded a doctorate from the University of Rostock for his report on Vancouver Island. In 1876, Brown moved to London where he joined the editorial staff of the Echo, later transferring to the Standard in 1879. He was a prolific writer, publishing numerous reports on the botany, zoology, and geology of the areas he explored, in addition to popular scientific compilations. He died on 26 October 1895 at Streatham.

From the guide to the Robert Brown collection, 1861-1867, (Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge)