(Material researched & presented by Barbara Armstrong)

[1853 - 1888]

Samuel Brown was born in 1853 at Edinburgh, Scotland, son of Samuel Brown and his wife Helen Robertson Littlejohn. His father died soon after his birth, so that according to the 1861 census his mother was already a widow.

Dr Brown gained his qualifications in 1875 (Mb et ChM Edinburgh). According to the UK Register of Medical Practitioners for 1879, he was practising at Largo, Fifeshire. According to the 1881 census, he was a medical practitioner at 25 Grosvenor Street, Chester in England. He was married to Jeannette M. Brown and while they were living in Chester they had two children - Jeanette Belle in and Samuel.

However, Dr Brown's health was very poor, being susceptible to chronic bronchial complaints. In 1883 he gave up his practice in Chester and he and his family migrated to Launceston, Tasmania in the hope that the new climate would be favourable to his condition. He worked his passage as doctor of the vessel.

At the October 1883 opening of the new Homœopathic Pharmacy, Launceston it was announced that Dr Brown would provide consultations at the Pharmacy, as well as from his premises at Park View, Brisbane Road. By December 1884 the Pharmacy was so much associated with Dr Brown's name that he felt the need to place advertisements stating that, because of "much confusion and misunderstanding having arisen in connection with the Homœopathic Pharmacy" he wished to notify "that it does not belong to him. It is a branch of the Homœopathic Pharmacy at Hobart". (In 1885 Mr F. Styant Browne, previously manager of the Pharmacy, purchased the Pharmacy from its owner, Dr Benjafield.)

Dr Brown gave several talks at the Mechanics' Institute on the topic of "The Sanitary Care of the Body", which included admonishments about the congested living conditions of the poor, as well as advice against the tight clothing worn by women, this being bad for their health.

In July 1884 he moved to York Street, at "Mr De Little's late residence, near Tamar Street".

Although Dr Brown's health had improved for a period, unfortunately by early 1885 it was deteriorating again and he was described as being in very delicate health. He travelled to Melbourne to consult with colleagues, who advised that he would not survive the winters in Tasmania and recommended that he should move to Queensland. This he did, and six weeks after his departure the newspapers reported that the warmer climate was "acting like a charm" and that he was gaining health and strength. He was also "working up a good practice".

Unfortunately, Dr Brown's symptoms returned and he died at Wickham Terrace, Brisbane on 22 September 1888. The Launceston Examiner stated that his "genial manner made him a favourite", so he was obviously missed.

His wife and children left Australia and in the 1891 census of Wales they are listed as living at Denbeigh.

© Barbara Armstrong

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