Charles Albert Browne Jr. (August 12, 1870 – February 3, 1947) was a sugar chemist and former head of the Bureau of Chemistry, which later became the Food and Drug Administration.

His father, Charles Albert Browne Sr., was an inventor and held several patents dealing with explosive technologies including electric fuses.

His father helped to apply these technologies during the construction of the Hoosac Tunnel near North Adams, where Charles grew up.

[1] Upon graduating from Drury High School in North Adams, Charles went on to attend nearby Williams College where he received a B.A and M.A.

[3] In 1945, Browne donated around 450 items from his own collection to the Edgar Fahs Smith Memorial Library in the History of Chemistry, which was curated by Eva Armstrong.