Browne, Joseph (1700-1767), college head 

Browne, Joseph (1700-1767), college head, was born at Tongue, in Watermillock, Cumberland, and baptized at Watermillock on 19 December 1700, the son of George Browne, of New Church [aka Watermillock], Cumberland, and Anne Troutbeck. He had a sister, Ann, who married Benjamin Grisdale. He was educated at Barton School, and matriculated commoner of Queen's College, Oxford, on 24 March 1716, aged fifteen, apparently funded by a private benefactor. He was elected taberdar of his college, graduated BA in 1721, and proceeded MA in 1724. Elected fellow on 1 April 1731, he served as chaplain and tutor and took the degrees of BD (1737) and DD (1743). In 1741 he was elected to the Sedleian chair of natural philosophy; he left little mark as professor. In 1746 he was presented with the college living of Bramshot, in Hampshire, and instituted prebendary of Hereford.

On 3 December 1756 Browne was elected provost of Queen's College. A tory in politics, he interested himself more in university than college affairs; he served as vice-chancellor from 1759 to 1765 and successfully supported the earl of Lichfield in his election as the new chancellor in 1762. Browne suffered a severe stroke on 25 March 1765, and died on 17 June 1767. His only known work was an edition of the poems of Urban VIII, which he published at Oxford in 1726.

WILLIAM HUNT, reviewed S. J. SKEDD