William Montague Browne (July 7, 1823 – April 28, 1883) was a prominent Confederate politician and American newsman.

Definite information about some events, positions or locations in his early life, including an uncertain higher education, alleged service in the British Army during the Crimean War, diplomatic services and his initial whereabouts in the United States during the early 1850s, appears to be unavailable.

One was Howell Cobb, a former United States Secretary of the Treasury and an old and close friend from Washington, who now was the President of Provisional Confederate Congress.

[5] Browne resigned in March 1862 and was assigned as military aide-de-camp to President Davis, with the rank of a Colonel of cavalry.

[8] In late 1864 Browne, while still enforcing conscription, was detached to commanded a small brigade of reserves during the Savannah Campaign.

Despite this he later was excluded from amnesty on grounds of being both a civil officeholder and a military officer ranking higher than colonel.