Sir John McLeavy Brown, CMG (27 November 1835 – 6 April 1926) was an Irish civil servant in the British Colonial Service.
After attending Queen's University Belfast and Trinity College Dublin, McLeavy Brown made his way to China, where at age 32 he became first secretary to the Burlingame Mission, the first Chinese diplomatic mission to the United States and Europe.
While serving in this capacity he was offered, by King (later Emperor) Kojong, a position as financial advisor and Chief Commissioner of Customs in 1893.
Following the murder of Queen Min in 1895, the King fled, but not before signing a decree giving McLeavy Brown absolute control over the treasury.
[4] In 1913 he was appointed Counsellor to the Chinese Legation in London, a position he held until his death in 1926.