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 these maps, see the entry for Tulloch. Independently, he produced Brown’s school room map of Victoria 1857 — “the accuracy and beauty of the maps produced by this gentleman are universally acknowledged, but in this new map we think he has excelled all his previous efforts” (The Age, 19 Feb 1857), as well as sheets for the Geological Survey of Victoria; produced, with William Slight (see BME 2011), Frederick Proeschel, Map of New South Wales & Victoria 1861; Jacob Braché, Ballaarat gold field. No. 1 1861; Proeschel, Australasia 1863; Proeschel, Map of North Australia 1863; further sheets for the Geological Survey of Victoria, etc.
Born in Edinburgh about 1816, the son of Robert Brown (1780?-1850), a baker, and his wife Margaret Davie (1782?-1824), who had married in 1801. He married Charlotte Matilda Calverly (b.1809?). Employed by the Ordnance Survey in Dublin in 1842. A daughter was born in London about 1845 and Brown was subsequently employed by the Ordnance Survey at Southampton from 12 Apr 1847 to 30 Jul 1852. Recorded on the 1851 census living in Southampton with his wife Charlotte (b.1809?) from Pocklington, Yorkshire, and the daughter. The family departed from Southampton on the Hopewell and arrived in Australia 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. Brown joined the Department of Lands as an engraver 14 Nov 1856, but was retrenched 31 Dec 1857. He was in a partnership with Slight, as ‘Brown & Slight’ from 1860. 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
109 Little Lonsdale Street East, Melbourne — 1853-1856
— and 65 Bourke Street West, Melbourne — 1854-1855
19 Collins Street, Melbourne — 1856
225 Clarendon Street, Emerald Hill, Melbourne — 1861-1865
BNA. Census 1851. DAAO. Darragh. OSP. NLA. Tooley. Trove.