William Browne (Mayor of the Calais Staple)

Sir William Browne (1410 – 14 April 1489) was Lord Mayor and Merchant of the Staple of Calais, France; and founder of Browne's Hospital, a medieval almshouse and listed building in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England.

In 1485, he was authorised by letters patent of Richard III to found and endow an almshouse.

Four years later, after Browne's death and that of his wife, Margaret, the management of the Hospital passed to her brother, Thomas Stokke, Canon of York and Rector of Easton-on-the-Hill.

[2] William Browne married Dame Margaret Stock (or Stokke, or Stokes) (d. 28 October 1489), heiress of the manor house of Warmington.

They had at least two children, daughters Agnes[3] and Elizabeth (c. 1441–1511) who married Sir John Elmes and lived at Lilford Hall.