BROWN, James Davie (1816?-1865) — Melbourne
Map engraver & lithographer. Engraved Albert Purchas, Map of the settled districts around Melbourne in the colony of Victoria 1854, with David Tulloch; James Kearney, Melbourne and its suburbs 1855, with Tulloch; Tulloch & Brown’s map of the colony of Victoria 1856, again with Tulloch. For some commentary on the maps, see the entry for Tulloch.
Born in Edinburgh about 1816. A daughter was born in London about 1845 and Brown was subsequently employed by the Ordnance Survey at Southampton before emigrating. Recorded on the 1851 census living in Southampton with his wife Charlotte (b.1809?) from Pocklington, Yorkshire, and the daughter. Arrived in Australia on the Hopewell 6 Feb 1853. Went into partnership with David Tulloch in Mar 1853. Their maps and engravings were awarded a bronze medal at the Melbourne Exhibition, and a silver medal at the Victorian Industrial Exhibition, both in 1854. The partnership was formally dissolved 23 Jul 1856, with William Slight (see BME 2011) acting as a witness. Died at Emerald Hill, Melbourne, 3 Mar 1865 and was buried at Parkville. “James Davie Brown, engraver, late of Edinburgh, and Ordnance Map Office, Southampton. Deeply regretted by a large circle of friends” (The Age, 6 Mar 1865). His widow subsequently placed a notice in the press seeking letters of administration, and stating that “an application will be made to the said court for a rule that the freehold land of which the said James Davie Brown was the owner at the time of his death, should be dealt with as if it had been held for a term of years, and that the said Charlotte Brown should be appointed administratrix thereof” (The Herald, 29 Mar 1865).
9 Brunswick Terrace, Southampton — 1851
198 Stephens Street, Melbourne — 1854
BNA. Census 1851. DAAO. OSP. NLA. Tooley. Trove.