Of Irish extraction, the family had a military or church tradition; his father was a colonel in the Buckinghamshire Militia while his younger brother, Harold Browne, later became Bishop of Winchester.

[1] Browne retired from the British Army on half-pay in 1851 and shortly took up an appointment as Governor of the island of Saint Helena.

She was over 20 years his junior and was well read, socially accomplished with a pleasant personality, and had an excellent understanding of the political environment in which she and her husband circulated.

His governorship term ended in May 1861; rather than extend it, the Colonial Office in London replaced him with Sir George Grey.

A popular governor for most of his term, he lost goodwill when he displayed favouritism when filling a public service position.

The couple had several children; the eldest son, Harold Browne, also served in the British Army and fought in the Boer War of 1899–1900, and took part in the defence of Ladysmith.

[6] His daughter, Ethel, married Hugh Locke King who built the Brooklands motor racing circuit in England,[9] while his youngest son, Wilfrid was the first Bishop of Kimberley and Kuruman in South Africa.