Sir Richard Browne

Father-in-law of John Evelyn, Browne was the son of Christopher Browne and Thomazine Gonson.

Browne was the resident English ambassador to the court of France at Paris from 1641 to 1660. He was at this post when the young Evelyn met him in the autumn of 1646 (diary entry: Monday 16 November 1643) and by June 1647, Evelyn had secured permission to marry Richard’s 12-year-old daughter Mary Browne.  He was created a Baronet by Charles II in 1649. Being a Royalist he could not easily return to England to his family estate Sayes Court, in Deptford, opposite the Naval Dockyard. Evelyn eventually purchased the Sayes Court estate in 1653.  Browne died at Charlton, Kent.

Austin Dobson adds these notes: “Sir Richard Browne, 1605-83, of Sayes Court, Deptford. After being educated at Merton College, Oxford and travelling on the Continent, he was sworn Clerk of the Council to Charles I., 1641. Having then filled some minor diplomatic posts, he was appointed English Resident at the Court of France, succeeding the Earl of Leicester. He held this office until the Restoration. He was made a Baronet in 1649.

• Introduction – Part V
• Introduction – Part II
• Introduction – Part I
• Sir Richard Browne

• Wikipedia articles on Sir Richard Browne

• Wikipedia for background, portrait.