Harold Brown (Royal Navy officer)

Engineer Vice-Admiral Sir Harold Arthur Brown GBE KCB (19 March 1878 – 15 February 1968) was an English engineer who served with the Royal Navy.^[1]

Brown in 1932

History

Brown was born in Southery, Norfolk,^[2] the son of farmer Joseph John Brown of Esher, Surrey and Caroline Martha Brown.^[1][3]

The grave of Sir Harold Brown in Brookwood Cemetery in 2018

Brown joined the Royal Navy in 1894 as a trainee engineer at the Devonport Dockyards. In 1899, he qualified as a Probationary Assistant Engineer, promoted to engineer lieutenant in 1900. In 1912, he was promoted to engineer lieutenant-commander, engineer commander in 1917 and engineer captain in 1924. He served in Washington as Assistant Naval Attache 1921–1925. In 1930 he was appointed engineer rear-admiral and in 1932 was appointed vice-admiral and Engineer-in-Chief of the Fleet. He served as Director-General of Munitions Production, The War Office and retired in 1936.^[4]

In 1910, he married Marion Lillie Macbean, daughter of Col. Forbes Macbean (1857–1919).^[1] They are buried together in Brookwood Cemetery in Surrey.

Recognition

Brown was appointed:

• CB in the 1932 Birthday Honours list
• KCB in the 1934 Birthday Honours list
• GBE in the 1939 Birthday Honours list