He was the elder son of Thomas Brown of Notting Hill Terrace, London, by his wife Grace Bryant.
In 1850, when only twenty-three, he was appointed professor of veterinary science at the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester, where he remained for thirteen years.
Under various titles he remained in charge of veterinary matters at the privy council office and (after 1889) at the board of agriculture until his retirement under the age clause at the end of 1893.
In addition to his official labours, Brown was from 1881 professor of cattle pathology at the Royal Veterinary College, and from 1888 to 1894 was principal.
In December 1862 he joined the Royal Agricultural Society of England, of which he was elected an honorary member on 1 May 1878, and was consulting veterinary surgeon.
Otherwise his contributions to professional literature mainly consisted of reports to his department and of articles in the 'Journals' of the Royal and Bath and West of England agricultural societies, bodies which he greatly assisted with his sound and clearly expressed advice.