John Browne (King's Gunfounder)
Encyclopedia
John Browne was the first holder of the post of King's Gunfounder, which was created in 1615. He was heavily involved in the Wealden iron industry
, having control of six furnaces in Surrey and Sussex, two in the Forest of Dean
as well as his own furnace
between Brenchley
and Horsmonden
.
, he sold a great number of guns to the former United Provinces
, the King being a partner in this traffic.
Browne also held a patent
which gave him a monopoly
on the casting of pots, pans and firebacks.
John Browne developed a type of cannon
known as "The Drake" in the 1620s. This cannon was much lighter than previous cannons firing a similar weight of shot, thus enabling ships to be more heavily armed. One such cannon made by Browne was recovered from the wreck of HMS Swan
a 200 long tons (203.2 t) Cromwellian warship lost in a storm off the Isle of Mull
in 1653 whilst attacking Duart Castle
. This cannon weighed 3cwt, 2qtrs, 23 lbs (415 pounds (188.2 kg)) and had a 3½" (89mm) muzzle. It fired shot weighing 4 pounds (1.81 kg). HMS Swan was the last ship built for Charles I, its guns were all cast in iron. A larger ship, HMS Sovereign of the Seas
had 92 Drakes, cast in bronze
, as well as 10 non-Drakes, also cast in bronze.
In 1642, John Browne was ordered by Parliament to deliver a list of "grenadoes"
being held art the Stillyard, and he was not to deliver them except with the Order of the House.In 1645, John Browne and his son were ordered by Parliament to be taken into safe cutody, and no visitor was allowed to be alone with either of them. This being because he was suspected of supporting the Royalist
cause. Browne appears to have been released in December 1645. John Browne died in 1651. In 1677, another John Browne built a Boring mill at Birchden Forge, Rotherfield.
Browne's wife Martha is commemmorated by a cast iron graveslab in St Margaret's Church, Horsmonden.
Wealden iron industry
The Wealden iron industry was located in the Weald of south-eastern England. It was formerly an important industry, producing a large proportion of the bar iron made in England in the 16th century and most British cannon until about 1770. Ironmaking in the Weald used ironstone from various clay...
, having control of six furnaces in Surrey and Sussex, two in the Forest of Dean
Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean is a geographical, historical and cultural region in the western part of the county of Gloucestershire, England. The forest is a roughly triangular plateau bounded by the River Wye to the west and north, the River Severn to the south, and the City of Gloucester to the east.The...
as well as his own furnace
River Teise
The River Teise is a tributary of the River Medway in Kent, England. It begins in Dunorlan Park in Tunbridge Wells. and flows eastwards past Bayham Abbey and then through Lamberhurst...
between Brenchley
Brenchley
Brenchley is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.-History:The name is historically derived from Branca's Leigh. The parish is located east of Tunbridge Wells, and south of Paddock Wood, and includes the neighbouring village of Matfield...
and Horsmonden
Horsmonden
Horsmonden is a village in Kent, on the Weald. It is situated on a road leading from Maidstone to Lamberhurst, three miles north of the latter place. The nearest railway station is Paddock Wood, Horsmonden railway station having closed in 1961.- History :It was an important centre of the medieval...
.
Biography
During the reign of Charles ICharles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
, he sold a great number of guns to the former United Provinces
Southern Netherlands
Southern Netherlands were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain , Austria and annexed by France...
, the King being a partner in this traffic.
Browne also held a patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
which gave him a monopoly
Monopoly
A monopoly exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity...
on the casting of pots, pans and firebacks.
John Browne developed a type of cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
known as "The Drake" in the 1620s. This cannon was much lighter than previous cannons firing a similar weight of shot, thus enabling ships to be more heavily armed. One such cannon made by Browne was recovered from the wreck of HMS Swan
HMS Swan (1641)
Swan was a 200 ton warship of the English Royal Navy, launched in 1641. She was the last ship to be built for Charles I. She carried a number of iron cannon, which were cast by John Browne.-Capture:...
a 200 long tons (203.2 t) Cromwellian warship lost in a storm off the Isle of Mull
Isle of Mull
The Isle of Mull or simply Mull is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland in the council area of Argyll and Bute....
in 1653 whilst attacking Duart Castle
Duart Castle
Duart Castle or Caisteal Dhubhairt in Scottish Gaelic is a castle on the Isle of Mull, off the west coast of Scotland, within the council area of Argyll and Bute...
. This cannon weighed 3cwt, 2qtrs, 23 lbs (415 pounds (188.2 kg)) and had a 3½" (89mm) muzzle. It fired shot weighing 4 pounds (1.81 kg). HMS Swan was the last ship built for Charles I, its guns were all cast in iron. A larger ship, HMS Sovereign of the Seas
HMS Sovereign of the Seas
Sovereign of the Seas was a 17th century warship of the English Navy. She was ordered as a 90-gun first-rate ship of the line of the English Royal Navy, but at launch was armed with 102 bronze guns, at the insistence of the king...
had 92 Drakes, cast in bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
, as well as 10 non-Drakes, also cast in bronze.
In 1642, John Browne was ordered by Parliament to deliver a list of "grenadoes"
Hand grenade
A hand grenade is any small bomb that can be thrown by hand. Hand grenades are classified into three categories, explosive grenades, chemical and gas grenades. Explosive grenades are the most commonly used in modern warfare, and are designed to detonate after impact or after a set amount of time...
being held art the Stillyard, and he was not to deliver them except with the Order of the House.In 1645, John Browne and his son were ordered by Parliament to be taken into safe cutody, and no visitor was allowed to be alone with either of them. This being because he was suspected of supporting the Royalist
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
cause. Browne appears to have been released in December 1645. John Browne died in 1651. In 1677, another John Browne built a Boring mill at Birchden Forge, Rotherfield.
Browne's wife Martha is commemmorated by a cast iron graveslab in St Margaret's Church, Horsmonden.