William Gustavus Brown

Brown was born in Kingston, Jamaica, to Janette Smellie (who was listed as a free woman of colour on his baptism) and Major Gustav Heinrich Gottlieb Braun (Brown), a German-born officer in the King's Royal Rifle Corps.^[1]

Brown was commissioned into the 24th Regiment of Foot.^[2] Having served as a brigadier-general at Aldershot, he was promoted to major-general and made commander of British Troops in China and Hong Kong in 1863.^[3] During his term in command he put down a disturbance at Taitsan; allegations were made at the time about cruelty by British troops but were subsequently dismissed as groundless.^[4]

He was also colonel of the 83rd (County of Dublin) Regiment of Foot.^[5]

In retirement, he lived in Sydenham in Kent.^[6]