James Browne (Indian Army officer)


Sir James Browne KCSI CB, known as "Buster Browne", was a British military engineer and administrator in British India.

Career

Browne was the son of Robert Browne of Falkirk, Scotland. He entered the East India Company's Military College at Addiscombe in February 1856, and received a commission in the Bengal Engineers on 11 December 1857.
He served in the expedition against the Mahsud Waziris in 1860, being mentioned in despatches, and in 1863 in the Ambela Campaign, when he was three times mentioned. In January 1875 he became superintendent of works for the building of the Indus bridge. In 1877 he was promoted lieutenant-colonel, and in 1878–1879 accompanied Sir Donald Stewart as political officer during the Second Anglo-Afghan War. He took part in several engagements, was mentioned in despatches, and received the CB.
In 1881 he became colonel, and in 1882 commanded the Indian engineer contingent sent to Egypt, being present at the Battle of Tel el-Kebir during the Anglo-Egyptian War. For his services in Egypt he received the 3rd class of the Osmariieh Order and the Khedives Star.
In 1884 he was appointed engineer-in-chief of the Sindh-Pishin railway. In 1888 he was made a KCSI and in 1889 quartermaster-general for India. In 1892 he was appointed agent to the governor-general in Baluchistan, in succession to Sir Robert Groves Sandeman, his intimate experience of the Baluchis, gained during his railway work, having specially fitted him for this post.

Personal life

In 1864 Browne married Alice Pierson, daughter of Charles Pierson and sister of Major William Henry Pierson.

Death

Browne died suddenly on 13 June 1896 and is buried in Brompton Cemetery, Kensington and Chelsea, London.