Colonel Sir Thomas Robert Gore Browne Knight Commander of the Order of Street Michael and Saint George Central Bank was a British colonial administrator, who was Governor of Street Helena,, and Governor of Bermuda.
Background
Browne was born in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, the first son of Robert Browne of Morton House, in Buckinghamshire, and of Sarah Dorothea Steward. His younger brother was Harold Browne (later Bishop of Winchester) He served with the British Army in Afghanistan and India.
Career
In 1824 he purchased an Ensigncy in the 44th Foot, but three months later exchanged into the 28th Foot. In 1829 he purchased a Captaincy. In 1836, as a Major, he exchanged into the 41st Foot.
In 1842 he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army, in 1845 he purchased the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the 41st Foot, and in 1849 he exchanged into the 21st Foot.
He was Governor of Street Helena from July 1851 to December 1854. He was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army in 1854, by which time he was back in his original regiment, the 44th Foot.
In 1857, he exchanged from the 14th Foot to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the 43rd Foot. In September 1855, he was appointed, replacing temporary Administrator Robert Wynyard.
His handling of Māori land issues were a contributing factor in the outbreak of the First Taranaki War: despite divisions among Waitara Maori over the ownership of land, Browne persisted with the purchase of the disputed Pekapeka block, further inflaming tensions between Maori and English settlers.
On 5 March 1860, Browne ordered the military occupation of the land, leading to the outbreak of war twelve days later. The town of Gore, New Zealand was named after him. From 1861 until 1868 he was He was promoted Colonel in the Army in 1864.
From September 1870 to April 1871, he was He died in London on 17 April 1887.
They had several children. The eldest son, Harold, commanded the first battalion king"s royal rifle corps in the Boer war of 1899-1900, and took part in the defence of Ladysmith.