John Browne (artist)

Born on the 26 April 1742[1] at Finchingfield, in Essex, the posthumous son of John Browne[b] (1715–1741), rector of Bayfield near Holt[6] in Norfolk and his wife Mary Pask (1720–1776), daughter of George Pask (1682–1753), vicar of Finchingfield, Essex and granddaughter of Isaac Watlington (died c. 1700), MP for Cambridge.

Browne was educated at Norwich, and in 1755 was sent to London by his great-uncle, the physician Messenger Monsey [c], where he was placed with John Tinney the engraver.

He quickly distinguished himself in his art, and in 1768 exhibited an engraving of "St. John Preaching in the Wilderness", after Salvator Rosa, which brought him much notice.

A granddaughter of Browne, Frances Ann Browne, and her husband Edward Miller, formerly manager of the Bank of New South Wales, were murdered on 10 November 1879 at their home in Wellington, New Zealand by one of their sons, Clarence Miller, who shortly afterwards took his own life.

[10] The following are his principal engravings: The Arms are Browne of Fulmodeston, Gules, two barrulets between three spear heads argent.