Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 07.djvu/57

 Browne Sunset,' and 'Moonlight ;' also several large plates after Claude Lorraine.

 BROWNE, JOSEPH (fl. 1706), physician, has been generally described as a charlatan. His origin is unknown, and the particulars of his personal history are scanty, but it is probable that he was the Joseph Browne of Jesus College, Cambridge, who proceeded M.B. 1695 ; that he took the degree of M.D. does not appear, though he assumed the title. In 1706 he was twice convicted for libelling Queen Anne's administration. The first of these occasions, when he was fined forty marks and ordered to stand in the pillory, was for the publication of 'The Country Parson's Honest Advice to that judicious and worthy Minister of State my Lord Keeper.' In a letter addressed to Secretary Harley, 'occasioned by his late committment to Newgate,' he denies the authorship of this pamphlet, of which at the same time he gives a professedly disinterested explanation. He also speaks of Harley as having 'not only treated him like a patriot, but given him friendly advice.' For thus undertaking the office of political interpreter he was again fined forty marks and ordered to stand in the pillory twice. He has been described 'as a mere tool of the booksellers and always needy' (, Biog. Hist. of England (Noble's continuation), ii. 232). It is at any rate certain that he was an industrious writer, and that his effrontery may be discerned through an obscure and rambling style. He wrote and lectured against Harvey's theory of the circulation of the blood, and he continued the 'Examiner' after it had been dropped by Mrs. Manley, who had succeeded Swift and others ; 'consequently it became as inferior to what it had been as his abilities were to theirs' (ib.) Following the fashion of the time, he sought the patronage of great people, and was bold and importunate in his applications. Thus his 'Modern Practice of Physick vindicated' (two parts, 1703-4) is dedicated to the Duke of Leeds without permission, for he was 'jealous it might be denied him.' He hopes, however, the duke will 'pardon the ambition I have of publishing to the world that I am known to your grace.' A similar motive led him to dedicate his 'Lecture of Anatomy against the Circulation of the Blood' (1701) to 'His Excellency Heer Vrybergen, Envoy Extraordinary from the States-General.' His 'Practical Treatise of the Plague' (1720) has a prefatory epistle to an eminent medical authority of that day, Dr. Mead, and his last known publication, also on the plague, was addressed to the president and members of the Royal College of Physicians, with which body he was not affiliated. Beyond the date of this publication (1721) there is no trace of him.

 BROWNE, JOSEPH (1700–1767), provost of Queen's College, Oxford, son of George Browne, yeoman, was born at a place called the Tongue in Watermillock, Cumberland, educated at Barton school, and admitted commoner of Queen's College, Oxford, on 21 March 1716-17, the expense of his education being, it is said, partly defrayed by a private benefactor. He was elected tabarder on the foundation of his college, and, having graduated M.A. on 4 Nov. 1724, became a chaplain there. He was elected fellow 1 April 1731, and became a successful tutor; took the degree of D.D. 9 July 1743, and was presented by the college with the living of Bramshot, Hampshire, 1746. In that year he was appointed professor of natural philosophy, and held that office until his death. He was instituted prebendary of Hereford on 9 June of the same year (he was afterwards called into residence), and on 13 Feb. 1752 was collated to the chancellorship of the cathedral. On 3 Dec. 1756 he was elected provost of Queen's College. From 1759 to 1765 he held the office of vice-chancellor of the university. He had a severe stroke of palsy 25 March 1765, and died on 17 June 1767. He edited 'Maffei S. R. E. Card. Barberini postea Urbani VII Poemata,' 1726.

 BROWNE, LANCELOT (d. 1605), physician, was a native of York. He matriculated at St. John's College, Cambridge, in May 1559, graduated B.A. in 1562-3, and M.A. in 1566. In 1567 he was elected fellow of Pembroke Hall; in 1570 received the license of the university to practise physic. He took a leading part in the opposition to the new statutes of the university promulgated in 1572, and in 1573 was made proctor. He was created M.D. in 1576, and after this would appear to have moved to London, as on 10 June 1584 he was elected fellow of the