Born the son of George Arthur Brownlow and Cornelia Paulina Henrietta Brownlow (née Sandby), Brownlow was
commissioned into the
Bengal Army on 20 December 1847. He became
Adjutant of the
1st Sikh Infantry, a unit formed to defend the
North West Frontier, in 1851 and, having been promoted to
lieutenant on 10 September 1852, he fought in the Hazara Campaign of 1853 and was mentioned in despatches. After taking part in the Yusafzai expedition, like other officers at the time, he obtained a commission in the
British Indian Army in August 1858. he led his regiment at the Battle of Crag Piquet in November 1863 during the
Ambela Campaign. He was appointed a
Companion of the Order of the Bath on 5 August 1864. Promoted to brevet
lieutenant colonel on 5 August 1864 and substantive major on 20 December 1867, Brownlow commanded his regiment during the Hazara Campaign in 1868. Promoted to
colonel on 11 August 1869 and appointed
aide-de-camp to
the Queen on 30 October 1869, he commanded the Right (or
Chittagong) Column for the
Lushai Expedition in 1871. After being given command of a brigade at
Rawalpindi, he was advanced to
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 10 September 1872. He returned to
England in 1877 and became Assistant Military Secretary for India in 1879. promoted to
lieutenant-general on 7 September 1884 and advanced to
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath 5 January 1888. He was promoted again to full
general on 22 January 1889 before retiring in 1890. He lived at
Warfield Hall at
Warfield in
Berkshire; he died there on 5 April 1916 and was buried at St Michael the Archangel Churchyard in Warfield. ==Family==