James Browne (writer)

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James Browne LLD (1793 – 8 April 1841), Scottish advocate, scholar and man of letters.

Life[edit]

He was born at Whitefield, Perthshire. He was educated at the universities of Edinburgh and St. Andrews, where he studied law.[1] He wrote a Sketch of the History of Edinburgh, for Ewbank's Picturesque Views of that city (1823–1825).[2]

In 1826 he became a member of the Faculty of Advocates, and obtained the honorary doctorate of LL.D. from King's College, University of Aberdeen. His works include a Critical Examination of Macculloch's Work on the Highlands and Islands of Scotland (1826), Aperçu sur les Hieroglyphes d'Egypte (Paris, 1827), a Vindication of the Scottish Bar from the Attacks of Mr. Broughton, and A History of the Highlands and of the Highland Clans (1834–1836). He was appointed editor of the Caledonian Mercury in 1827; and two years later he became sub-editor of the seventh edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica working with Macvey Napier, to which he contributed a large number of articles.[2]

In the 1830s he lived at 11 Comely Bank[3] in Edinburgh, and was frequently visited by his friend Daniel O'Connell.

Browne died at Woodbine Cottage on York Road in the Trinity area on 8 April 1841.[4][5] He is buried within the floor of the tower in Duddingston Kirk.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Cassells Old and New Edinburgh vol.2 Ch.31
  2. ^ a b  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Browne, James". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 4 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 664.
  3. ^ "Edinburgh Post Office annual directory, 1832-1833". National Library of Scotland. p. 25. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  4. ^ "Ch 8: Valley of the Water of Leith (concluded) - Old and New Edinburgh by James Grant - Volume V". oldandnewedinburgh.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  5. ^ Further Traditions of Trinity and Leith by Joyce Wallace ISBN 0-85976-282-3
  6. ^ Cassells Old and New Edinburgh vol.2 Ch.31