Peter Browne (1670–1724) was the oldest son of Colonel John Browne, a major landowner in the west of Ireland as well as a Jacobite who fought in the War of the Two Kings.

A Catholic, the fortunes of the Browne family did not fully revive until the time of his son John, later first Earl of Altamont.

Peter Browne had once been heir to the richest man in Connaught, however following the defeat of 1691 Peter found himself bankrupt and, as a Catholic, excluded from politics.

[2] He lived at Mount Browne, a house built around 1700 near Westport.

Peter Browne may have intended to improve the local economy for in 1723 he engaged two stonemasons to build a market house wall at Westport.