Brown was born in Toronto, the son of newspaper publisher Honorary He was sent to the leading private school Upper Canada College, and then back to his father"s native Scotland to Merchiston Castle School from where he won entry into King"s College, Cambridge.
One of Nelson"s most popular authors was Doctor Arthur Conan Doyle. The Unionists did not choose their candidate for the seat until much closer to the election, but when they did, Brown found himself opposed by Doctor Conan Doyle, standing as a Liberal Unionist. Conan Doyle did better than any previous Unionist candidate in the constituency, but Brown was elected by a majority of 569 votes.
Brown was regarded as unknown by the political world when elected.
On 16 October 1901 he introduced to H. H. Asquith a deputation from the Scottish Temperance Legislation Board, who were campaigning for a change in the law to prohibit the sale of alcoholic liquor. He also pressed for more underground telegraphy lines between England and Scotland to aid communication.
In the autumn of 1902 Brown announced that he would not seek re-election at the next general election That October he voted for an Irish Parliamentary Party motion condemning the imprisonment of Irish MPs who were campaigning for the United Irish League and land reform. He also joined the council of the Free Trade Union when it was set up in response to the demand for Tariff Reform in 1903.
After the end of his political career, Brown moved to Taynuilt in Argyll.
27th United Kingdom Parliament]
When William McEwan announced his retirement as Liberal Member of Parliament for Edinburgh Central, Brown was chosen to fight the seat.
