John Gilbert Newton Brown
Encyclopedia
Sir John Gilbert Newton Brown CBE
(1916–2003) was Publisher of the Oxford University Press
and has been credited as one of the great leaders of British publishing throughout its post World War II
recovery .
He was born on 7 July 1916 and was educated at Lancing College
and Hertford College, Oxford
. After university, he travelled to India to join the Oxford University Press at its Bombay branch in 1937. At the outbreak of war, Brown was commissioned into the Bombay Light Horse
before transferring to the Royal Artillery
. He was taken prisoner by the Japanese after the fall of Singapore
and spent the remaining war years as a prisoner of war
.
Following release, he rejoined the OUP in London in 1946 and was appointed Sales Manager in 1949 and Publisher in 1956. He was elected President of the Publishers' Association in 1963 and helped to found the Book Development Council with John Attenborough. Brown left the OUP to join the Blackwell Publishing
Group in the 1980s. He rose to be group Vice-President in 1987, a position he held until his death in 2003.
Brown was appointed CBE in 1966 and knighted in 1974. He is survived by his wife, son and two daughters.
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
(1916–2003) was Publisher of the Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
and has been credited as one of the great leaders of British publishing throughout its post World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
recovery .
He was born on 7 July 1916 and was educated at Lancing College
Lancing College
Lancing College is a co-educational English independent school in the British public school tradition, founded in 1848 by Nathaniel Woodard. Woodard's aim was to provide education "based on sound principle and sound knowledge, firmly grounded in the Christian faith." Lancing was the first of a...
and Hertford College, Oxford
Hertford College, Oxford
Hertford College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is located in Catte Street, directly opposite the main entrance of the original Bodleian Library. As of 2006, the college had a financial endowment of £52m. There are 612 students , plus various visiting...
. After university, he travelled to India to join the Oxford University Press at its Bombay branch in 1937. At the outbreak of war, Brown was commissioned into the Bombay Light Horse
Bombay Light Horse
The Bombay Light Horse was raised in 1885 and formed part of the Cavalry Reserve in the British Indian Army. The regiment was disbanded following India's independence in 1947....
before transferring to the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
. He was taken prisoner by the Japanese after the fall of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and spent the remaining war years as a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
.
Following release, he rejoined the OUP in London in 1946 and was appointed Sales Manager in 1949 and Publisher in 1956. He was elected President of the Publishers' Association in 1963 and helped to found the Book Development Council with John Attenborough. Brown left the OUP to join the Blackwell Publishing
Blackwell Publishing
Wiley-Blackwell is the international scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly publishing business of John Wiley & Sons. It was formed by the merger of John Wiley's Global Scientific, Technical, and Medical business with Blackwell Publishing, after Wiley took over Blackwell Publishing in...
Group in the 1980s. He rose to be group Vice-President in 1987, a position he held until his death in 2003.
Brown was appointed CBE in 1966 and knighted in 1974. He is survived by his wife, son and two daughters.