James Browne (engineer)
Encyclopedia
Major-General Sir James Browne KCSI
CB
(1839 – 13 June 1896) was a British
military engineer
and administrator in British India.
He was the son of Robert Browne of Falkirk
, Scotland. He was educated at the Military College, Addiscombe
, and received a commission in the Bengal Engineers in 1857.
He served in the expedition against the Mahsud
Waziris in 1860, being mentioned in despatches, and in 1863 in the Umbeyla Campaign
, when he was three times mentioned. In January 1875 he became superintendent of works for the building of the Indus bridge. In 1877 he was promoted lieutenant-colonel, and in 1878–1879 accompanied Sir Donald Stewart
as political officer during the Second Anglo-Afghan War. He took part in several engagements, was mentioned in despatches, and received the CB
.
In 1881 he became colonel, and in 1882 commanded the Indian engineer contingent sent to Egypt
, being present at the Battle of Tel el-Kebir. For his services in Egypt he received the 3rd class of the Osmariieh Order and the Khedives Star.
In 1884 he was appointed engineer-in-chief of the Sindh
-Pishin railway. In 1888 he was made a KCSI
and in 1889 quartermaster-general for India. In 1892 he was appointed agent to the governor-general in Baluchistan
, in succession to Sir Robert Groves Sandeman
, his intimate experience of the Baluchis, gained during his railway work, having specially fitted him for this post.
, Kensington and Chelsea
, London.
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(1839 – 13 June 1896) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
military engineer
Military engineer
In military science, engineering refers to the practice of designing, building, maintaining and dismantling military works, including offensive, defensive and logistical structures, to shape the physical operating environment in war...
and administrator in British India.
He was the son of Robert Browne of Falkirk
Falkirk
Falkirk is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley, almost midway between the two most populous cities of Scotland; north-west of Edinburgh and north-east of Glasgow....
, Scotland. He was educated at the Military College, Addiscombe
Addiscombe
Addiscombe is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Croydon. It is situated south of Charing Cross.It is situated just to the northeast of central Croydon, and is home to a high proportion of people who commute to Central London, owing to its proximity to the busy...
, and received a commission in the Bengal Engineers in 1857.
He served in the expedition against the Mahsud
Mahsud
Mahsud is a Pashtun tribe in South Waziristan, a tribal region in Pakistan. Mahsud are considered to be one of the bravest and toughest Pashtun Tribes. The Mahsud tribe lives in the centre of South Waziristan valley, surrounded on three sides by the Darwesh Waziris, and being shut off by the...
Waziris in 1860, being mentioned in despatches, and in 1863 in the Umbeyla Campaign
Umbeyla Campaign
The Umbeyla Campaign was one of numerous expeditions led by British forces in the North-West Frontier Province; this campaign was against local Hindustani Pashtuns and Bunerwals of British India. The local Pashtuns were vehemently opposed to British colonial rule and frequently attacked British...
, when he was three times mentioned. In January 1875 he became superintendent of works for the building of the Indus bridge. In 1877 he was promoted lieutenant-colonel, and in 1878–1879 accompanied Sir Donald Stewart
Donald Martin Stewart
Field Marshal Sir Donald Martin Stewart, 1st Baronet, GCB GCSI CIE was a British field marshal. He was for five years Commander-in-Chief, India, and afterwards a member of the Council of the Secretary of State for India....
as political officer during the Second Anglo-Afghan War. He took part in several engagements, was mentioned in despatches, and received the CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
.
In 1881 he became colonel, and in 1882 commanded the Indian engineer contingent sent to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, being present at the Battle of Tel el-Kebir. For his services in Egypt he received the 3rd class of the Osmariieh Order and the Khedives Star.
In 1884 he was appointed engineer-in-chief of the Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
-Pishin railway. In 1888 he was made a KCSI
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
and in 1889 quartermaster-general for India. In 1892 he was appointed agent to the governor-general in Baluchistan
Baluchistan (Chief Commissioners Province)
The Chief Commissioner's Province of Baluchistan was a province of British India located in the northern parts of the modern Balochistan province.- History :...
, in succession to Sir Robert Groves Sandeman
Robert Groves Sandeman
Sir Robert Groves Sandeman, KCSI , Colonial British Indian officer and administrator, was the son of General Robert Turnbull Sandeman, and was born on the 25th of February 1835. He was educated at Perth and University of St Andrews, and joined the 33rd Bengal Infantry in 1856...
, his intimate experience of the Baluchis, gained during his railway work, having specially fitted him for this post.
Death
He died suddenly on 13 June 1896 and is buried in Brompton CemeteryBrompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery is located near Earl's Court in South West London, England . It is managed by The Royal Parks and is one of the Magnificent Seven...
, Kensington and Chelsea
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is a central London borough of Royal borough status. After the City of Westminster, it is the wealthiest borough in England....
, London.