Career
His masterpiece is Saint Mary"s Church, Bellevue, usually simply called Bellevue Church. Born in England, by 1809 Brown was an established surveyor and draughtsman. In February 1819 he received the hugely prestigious appointment of Superintendent of the City in Edinburgh.
This was during the city’s major expansion to the north to create its New Town, and placed Brown on the then huge salary of £250 per annum.
In this role he replaced Thomas Bonnar who had been dismissed in early January 1819. Brown was largely responsible for the northern streets of the “Second New Town”.
This role was run from the City Chambers. In the 1830s his address was listed as 6 Argyle Square (demolished in the 1860s to create Chambers Street),
He retired in 1847 on a pension of £150 per annum.
He died at 54 George Square, aged 69, and is buried in Greyfriars Churchyard.
John Cunningham.