Kenneth Brown (pastoralist)
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Brown was an explorer
and pastoralist
in Western Australia
. He was hanged for murder
ing his wife.
Kenneth Brown was born in England
in 1837. The eldest son of Thomas Brown
, he later became the older brother of Maitland Brown
. In 1840, The Brown family emigrated to Western Australia, arriving in March 1841. They initially settled at York
. In 1850, the family took up land in the Champion Bay area, where they established Glengarry. However the following year Thomas Brown was appointed to an official position in Fremantle
, and the family moved there.
During the 1850s, Kenneth Brown spent most of his time at Glengarry. He was often the only family member there, and he became increasingly responsible for its management. Although primarily a sheep station, Brown developed a passion for horse breeding
, and over time Glengarry became one of the most successful racehorse
breeding establishments in the colony
.
Kenneth Brown undertook a number of exploring expeditions between 1852 and 1863. In 1852 he explored the country behind Glengarry with Major Logue. Two years later, he was a member of Robert Austin
's expedition of 1854
. In 1859 he explored up the Murchison River
with William Dalgety Moore to look for new land. In June 1862 he again explored up the Murchison, this time with Thomas Burges.
In 1863, Brown helped to mount an expedition to the Glenelg River
. The exploring party included Brown and Samuel Hamersley
, and was financed by a group of pastoralists including Kenneth and Maitland Brown, Hamersley and Lockier Burges
. The following year he filed suit against Burges and others, seeking payment for his part in the expedition. The case was eventually settled out of court.
Brown had in 1859 married Mary Eliza Dircksey Wittenoom. They had two daughters, but Mary died during childbirth in 1868.
In June 1863 Brown's father died, and Kenneth and Maitland formed a partnership under which they managed Glengarry. Over the next decade, the Champion Bay area suffered severely from drought
, wheat rust
and sheep scab
. By 1871, Glengarry was heavily mortgaged.
In 1872, Brown withdrew from the partnership with his brother and left Glengarry. For a time he maintained his interest in horses and horse-racing, but with no real success. After a year, he left the colony for Melbourne. Cowan (1988) writes of him at this time:
While in Melbourne, Brown married again, but the marriage was almost at once a failure. By the time he returned to Western Australia with his wife, they were constantly and openly quarrelling.
In January 1876, after a day of heavy drinking and constant arguing with his wife, he shot her dead. He refused to provide any explanation or excuse at his trial. His family attempted to mount a defence of diminished responsibility, but were ultimately unsuccessful. Kenneth Brown was found guilty of murder, and hanged on 10 June 1876.
Many years later, the daughter of Kenneth Brown's second marriage claimed that while travelling in America she had met her father in a hotel. Because of this, a story persists that Maitland had arranged Kenneth's escape to the United States
.
Kenneth Brown's second child by his first marriage was Edith Cowan
(nee Brown).
Exploration
Exploration is the act of searching or traveling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information. Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans...
and pastoralist
Pastoralism
Pastoralism or pastoral farming is the branch of agriculture concerned with the raising of livestock. It is animal husbandry: the care, tending and use of animals such as camels, goats, cattle, yaks, llamas, and sheep. It may have a mobile aspect, moving the herds in search of fresh pasture and...
in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. He was hanged for murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
ing his wife.
Kenneth Brown was born in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1837. The eldest son of Thomas Brown
Thomas Brown (Western Australian politician)
Thomas Brown was an early settler in colonial Western Australia, and a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council....
, he later became the older brother of Maitland Brown
Maitland Brown
Maitland Brown was an explorer, politician and pastoralist in colonial Western Australia. He is best remembered as the leader of the La Grange expedition, which searched for and recovered the bodies of three white settlers murdered by Indigenous Australians, and subsequently killed a number of...
. In 1840, The Brown family emigrated to Western Australia, arriving in March 1841. They initially settled at York
York, Western Australia
York is the oldest inland town in Western Australia, situated 97 km east of Perth in the Avon Valley near Northam, and is the seat of the Shire of York...
. In 1850, the family took up land in the Champion Bay area, where they established Glengarry. However the following year Thomas Brown was appointed to an official position in Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
, and the family moved there.
During the 1850s, Kenneth Brown spent most of his time at Glengarry. He was often the only family member there, and he became increasingly responsible for its management. Although primarily a sheep station, Brown developed a passion for horse breeding
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
, and over time Glengarry became one of the most successful racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
breeding establishments in the colony
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
.
Kenneth Brown undertook a number of exploring expeditions between 1852 and 1863. In 1852 he explored the country behind Glengarry with Major Logue. Two years later, he was a member of Robert Austin
Robert Austin
Robert Austin led the Austin expedition of 1854, one of the first European inland explanations of Western Australia with Kenneth Brown. They explored Geraldton, Mount Magnet, and the Murchison River area.-References:...
's expedition of 1854
Austin expedition of 1854
The Austin expedition of 1854 was an exploring expedition undertaken in Western Australia by Robert Austin in 1854. Other members of the party included Kenneth Brown....
. In 1859 he explored up the Murchison River
Murchison River (Western Australia)
The Murchison River is the second longest river in Western Australia. It flows for about from the southern edge of the Robinson Ranges to the Indian Ocean at Kalbarri. It has a mean annual flow of about 200 million cubic metres.-Course:...
with William Dalgety Moore to look for new land. In June 1862 he again explored up the Murchison, this time with Thomas Burges.
In 1863, Brown helped to mount an expedition to the Glenelg River
Glenelg River (Western Australia)
The Glenelg River is a river in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.The headwaters of the river rise in the Elizabeth and Catherine Range then flow in a north-westerly direction past the Whately Range and discharge into Maitland Bay then through George Water, into Doubtful Bay and finally the...
. The exploring party included Brown and Samuel Hamersley
Samuel Hamersley
Samuel Richard Hamersley was a Western Australian pastoralist, and a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council for six years....
, and was financed by a group of pastoralists including Kenneth and Maitland Brown, Hamersley and Lockier Burges
Lockier Burges (Australian politician)
Lockier Clere Burges was an early settler in colonial Western Australia who became a leading pastoralist in the colony, and a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council....
. The following year he filed suit against Burges and others, seeking payment for his part in the expedition. The case was eventually settled out of court.
Brown had in 1859 married Mary Eliza Dircksey Wittenoom. They had two daughters, but Mary died during childbirth in 1868.
In June 1863 Brown's father died, and Kenneth and Maitland formed a partnership under which they managed Glengarry. Over the next decade, the Champion Bay area suffered severely from drought
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
, wheat rust
Rust (fungus)
Rusts are plant diseases caused by pathogenic fungi of the order Pucciniales. About 7800 species are known. Rusts can affect a variety of plants; leaves, stems, fruits and seeds. Rust is most commonly seen as coloured powder, composed off tiny aeciospores which land on vegetation producing...
and sheep scab
Scab
Scab can refer to the following:* Scab, a hard coating on the skin formed during the wound healing reconstruction phase* Derogatory term for a strikebreaker, a person who works despite strike action or against the will of other employees...
. By 1871, Glengarry was heavily mortgaged.
In 1872, Brown withdrew from the partnership with his brother and left Glengarry. For a time he maintained his interest in horses and horse-racing, but with no real success. After a year, he left the colony for Melbourne. Cowan (1988) writes of him at this time:
- He apparently began to lose considerable sums, he became increasingly restless, and drank heavily. His behaviour from this time became erratic. He was given to outbursts of temper, compounded, and perhaps in part caused, by drinking.
While in Melbourne, Brown married again, but the marriage was almost at once a failure. By the time he returned to Western Australia with his wife, they were constantly and openly quarrelling.
In January 1876, after a day of heavy drinking and constant arguing with his wife, he shot her dead. He refused to provide any explanation or excuse at his trial. His family attempted to mount a defence of diminished responsibility, but were ultimately unsuccessful. Kenneth Brown was found guilty of murder, and hanged on 10 June 1876.
Many years later, the daughter of Kenneth Brown's second marriage claimed that while travelling in America she had met her father in a hotel. Because of this, a story persists that Maitland had arranged Kenneth's escape to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Kenneth Brown's second child by his first marriage was Edith Cowan
Edith Cowan
Edith Dircksey Cowan , MBE was an Australian politician, social campaigner and the first woman elected to an Australian parliament....
(nee Brown).