The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-03-31 00:00:00

DEATH OF MR. JOHN BROWN.

The death of Mr, John Brown, who has been for
many years her Majesty's private attendant, occurred
rather suddenly at Windsor Castle on Tuesday.

It appears that Mr. Brown caught cold last Sunday
week, and since Friday he has kept in his apartments
at the Castle. Erysipelas ensued, which flew to his
head on Monday. Her Majesty and Royal Family
are very much grieved at the loss of their faithful
servant. -

The occasion on which the late John Brown took
cold was on the Sunday following the attack on Lady
Florence Dixie. He drove over from the Castle to
the Fishery in an open dog cart, to make in-
quiries at her Majesty's desire, respecting the
health of Lady Dixie, and into all the circum-
stances connected with the attack. Mr. Brown
went all over the ground, and spent a considerable
time in the open air making inquiries, thereby ex-
posinglhimself to a bitterly cold wind which gave him
a cold.

Mr. Brown was able to take outdoor exercise last
Saturday, but on Sunday he remained in his apart.
mentos, and on Monday was much worse. Sir William
Jenner, Physician to the Queen, was in attendance,
but his skill was unavailing. Mr. Brown became
much worse on Tuesday, and was unable to recognise
any of those around him. His two brothers were
with him when he died, as was also Sir William
Jenner.

The deceased (will, it is understood, bellinterred at
his native place near Balmoral. _ _

The death of her Majestyi attendant has cast a
gloom over the Castle, the deceased being much re-
spected by the whole of the household, and by a
large number of the inhabitants of Windsor, He was
57 years of age.
Deceased was gentleman porter to the Queen, and
was formerly personal attendant to his Royal Highness
the Duke of 'Albany.

A Dundee telegram says : —Quite a painful sen-
sation was caused in Braemar and Ballater on
receipt of telegrams announcing the death of John
Brown. No form was more familiar on Deeside than
the Queen's favourite attendant. It is only lately
that the erection was completed of a handsome
dwelling-house for Mr.l Brown within the Balmoral
grounds.

In "Leaves from the Journal of Our Life In the
Highlands from 1848 to 1861," the Queen makes men-
tion of the late Mr. John Brown for the first time as
being one of four men (who saved her and the time,
Prince Consort on Loch Mulch, September 16,
1850. A note gives the following particulars :—John
Brown in 1858 became my regular attendant
out of doors everywhere in the Highlands. He
commenced as gillie in 1849, and was selected
by Albert and me to go with my carriage. In 1851
he entered our service permanently, and began in that
year leading my pony, and ads anced st!p by step by
his good conduct and intelligence. His attention,
care, and faithfulness eannot be exceeded; and the
state of my health, which of late years has been
sorely tried and weakened, renders such qualifica-
tions most valuable, and, indeed, most needful
In a constant attendant upon all occasions.
He has 'since (in December, 1865), most deservedly
been promoted to be an upper servant, and my per-
manent personal attendant. He has all the inde-
pendence and elevated feelings peculiar to the Highland
race, and is singularly straightforward, simple-minded,
kind-hearted, and disinterested; always ready to
oblige; and of a disposition rarely to be met with.
He is now in his fortieth year. His father
was a small farmer, who lived at the Bush on the
opposite side to Balmoral. He is the second of nine
brothers, three of whom have died—two are in
Australia and New Zealand, two are living in the
neighbourhood of Balmoral; and the youngest, Archie
(Archiebald) is valet to our son Leopcld, and is an
excellent, trustworthy young man."