William Browne (judge)

Born in Salem, Massachusetts on February 27, 1737, son of Samuel Browne Jr. and Catherine Winthrop. He was the part of the prominent Browne family of Salem, and through his mother's side, he was descended from four colonial governors, including John Winthrop. Browne attended Harvard College and was classmate and friend of John Adams. His college portrait was painted by notable artist Joseph Blackburn. He graduated in 1755 and was valedictorian of his class. Browne married Ruth Wanton, daughter of Rhode Island Governor Joseph Wanton. In 1762 he was appointed as collector of the port of Salem, a position he held until 1766 when he was dismissed for sympathizing with colonist on the Sugar Act. William Browne was also a colonel of the Essex County militia. == Massachusetts judge ==

William Browne was appointed a judge in Essex County from 1770, and later appointed to the Massachusetts high court in 1774, following the death of Nathaniel Ropes. He was appointed by Governor Thomas Hutchinson, though his appointment was approved during the tenure of Governor Thomas Gage. American Revolution Browne was forced out of office during the American Revolution, in part for refusing to reject the heightened salary granted to judges by the Crown. He was also appointed a mandamus councilor to Governor Gage, a post he refused to resign, earning him widespread dislike in Massachusetts. This refusal led to the resignation of all of the officers of the Essex County militia regiment he led. Seizure of property & Marblehead (present day Swampscott) Browne left Massachusetts for England in 1776, This site would later be mentioned by Nathaniel Hawthorne in his writing ''Browne's Folly''. Of all his properties, its believed only his farmhouse is still standing. == Governor of Bermuda ==

William Browne was appointed Governor of Bermuda by the prime minister, Lord North, in 1781. Arriving in Bermuda in 1782, he immediately took steps to improve the island's defenses and raising militia companies heavily populated with exiled Loyalists. Following American independence, he sought to establish trade with the new United States and make Bermuda a free port. Browne eventually received some financial compensation from the British government for his family's losses. == Later life and death ==

William Browne would retire as governor at the age of 51, and move to Westminster, England. He would leave Bermuda in better shape than he found it, having established commerce with the new United States that would ensure the islands economic sustainability. Browne is noted as saying that “Bermuda is divided on domestic business, but it is united in its loyalty to His Majesty”. John Adams remembered his friend and former classmate as "a solid, judicious character...They made him a judge of the superior court and that society made of him a refugee. A Tory I verily believe he never was." ==References==