Browne was brought up in Norwich, in a surgical family, being related to William Crop, a surgeon in Norfolk, but not closely related to Sir Thomas Browne whom he knew.

[1] In 1678 Browne moved to London, and about the same time was made surgeon in ordinary to King Charles II.

[1] In 1691 complaints arose that the surgeons did not obey the regulations of the hospital, and claimed that being appointed by royal mandamus they were not responsible to the governors.

The Whig Sir Robert Clayton was then President, the governors were determined to maintain their authority, and on 7 July 1691 they dismissed the whole of their surgical staff, including Browne, and appointed others.

Browne appealed to the lords commissioners of the great seal, and the governors were called upon to defend their proceedings.