(1839–44) at University College, London (graduating B.A. 1843 at the London University), and at Coward College, Torrington Square, London, under Thomas William Jenkyn. Leaving college in 1844, he ministered to the congregational church at Lowestoft, Suffolk. His first publication was a 'Guide to Lowestoft,' 1845. He left Lowestoft in 1846, and on 10 Sept. 1848 succeeded Andrew Ritchie (d. 26 Dec. 1848) as minister of the congregational church at Wrentham, Suffolk, where he was ordained on 1 Feb. 1849. His ministry was plain and practical, and his platform power was considerable. From 1804 he was secretary of the Suffolk Congregational Union. At the end of 1877 he published his 'History of Congregationalism and Memorials of the Churches of Norfolk and Suffolk' (8vo), a work on which he had been engaged for five years. It shows wide and accurate research, and he had long been a collector of manuscripts, rare volumes, and portraits bearing on his subject. In person short and stout, he was a man of solid qualities and genial frankness. He died on 4 April 1886, and was buried at Wrentham on 9 April. He married, in 1849, Mary Ann (d. 1899), eldest daughter of the Rev. H. H. Cross of Bermuda, and left a son and five daughters. Besides the above he published:
- 'Doles and Dissent' [1845], 12mo.
- 'The Congregational Church at Wrentham [Suffolk] … its History and Biographies,' 1854, 8 vo.
- 'Dissent and the Church ' [1870], 8vo (in reply to Rev. J. C. Ryle, afterwards bishop of Liverpool).
- 'The History and Antiquities of Covehithe,' 1874, 8vo.
He was a contributor to the Schaff-Herzog 'Religious Encyclopædia,' New York, 1882-4, 8vo.
[Browne's Hist. Cong. Norf. and Suff. 1877, pp. 321, 433, 532; Christian World, 8 April 1886; Schaff-Herzog Encyclopædia, 1894, supplement, p. 27; information from the Rev. James Browne, Bradford, Yorkshire; personal knowledge.]
BROWNE, Sir THOMAS GORE (1807–1887), colonel and colonial governor, born 3 July 1807, was son of Robert Browne of Morton House near Buckingham, a colonel of the Buckinghamshire militia, also J.P. and D.L., by Sarah Dorothea, second daughter of Gabriel Steward, M.P., cf Nottington and Melcombe, Dorset. Edward Harold Browne [q. v. Suppl.], bishop of Winchester, was his youngest brother.
He was commissioned as ensign in the 44th foot on 14 Jan. 1824, exchanged to the 28th foot on 28 April, became lieutenant on 11 July 1820, and captain on 11 June 1829. He was aide-de-camp to Lord Nugent, the high commissioner in the Ionian Islands from 1832 to 1835, and he acted for a time as colonial secretary. He obtained a majority in the 28th on 19 Dec. 1834, and exchanged to the 41st on 25 March 1836. That regiment took part in the first Afghan war, and as one of its lieutenant-colonels (afterwards Sir Richard England [q. v.]) acted as brigadier, and the other was absent, Browne commanded the regiment. When England's force, on its way to join Nott at Candahar, was repulsed at Hykulzie (28 March 1842), Browne covered its retirement, forming square and driving back the enemy. He was present at the action of Candahar on 29 May, the march on Cabul, and the storming of Istalif. In the return march of the armies through the Khyber to India he was with the rearguard, which was frequently engaged. He was made brevet lieutenant-colonel on 23 Dec. 1842, and C.B. on 27 Sept. 1843.
He returned to England with the 41st in 1843, and became lieutenant-colonel of it on 22 July 1845. He exchanged to the 21st on 2 March 1849, and went on half-pay on 27 June 1851, having been appointed governor of St. Helena on 20 May. On 22 Aug. he was given the local rank of colonel. He improved the water supply at St. Helena. On 6 Nov. 1854 he was transferred to the governorship of New Zealand, and he landed at Auckland on 6 Sept. 1855. During his term of office the disputes between the settlers and the natives about the purchase of land came to a head in Taranaki. Responsible government was conceded to the colony shortly after his arrival there, but native affairs were reserved to the governor, though he had no power to legislate or to raise money.
Early in 1859 some land at the mouth of the Waitara was bought from Teira of the Ngatiawas, but William King, the chief of that tribe, vetoed the sale. Teira's title being primâ facie good, Browne directed that a survey should be made of the land for further investigation. This was resisted by the chief; troops were sent to Taranaki to enforce the governor's orders, and on 17 March 1860 fighting began. At the end of twelve months, several pahs having been taken, the Ngatiawas submitted, and other tribes which had supported them withdrew from the district. William King took refuge with the Waikatos.
Browne had had the full concurrence of his ministers in his course of action, but strong protests were made on behalf of the natives by some members of the opposition, by Archdeacon Hadfield and others of the
