William Brown (veterinarian)

William Brown JP (September 1861 – 27 September 1931) was an English veterinary surgeon and social reformer. A Quaker minister and justice of the peace in Somerset, he was active in religious, civic, and political work in Wiveliscombe and later undertook Quaker social work in Tottenham.

Brown was a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and practised for about 39 years in Wiveliscombe, including service as veterinary inspector for the Wiveliscombe, Dulverton, and Bishops Lydeard districts under the Diseases of Animals Act. After retiring in 1925, he moved to Tottenham.

A vegetarian and temperance advocate, Brown lectured widely on anti-vivisection, animal rights, peace, and temperance, and in 1919 compiled his lectures as Our Lesser Brethren. He helped establish a branch of the Good Templars in Wiveliscombe and served as president of the Prohibition Society. During the First World War he served as a Quaker chaplain to conscientious objectors and supported Friends' reconstruction work in South Wales. He later served on the council of the Cats Protection League. Brown died at Welwyn Garden City while attending a Quaker conference, and was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium.

William Brown was born in September 1861 in North Shields, Northumberland, to a Quaker family.^[1][2][3] He was the son of Charles and Emily Brown (d. 1904), and his brother was Dr E. Vipont Brown of Manchester.^[2][4] His niece was children's writer Elfrida Vipont.^[5]

Brown was a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.^[2] He practiced as a veterinary surgeon for 39 years in Wiveliscombe, Somerset, after moving there around 1886. He also served as veterinary inspector for the Wiveliscombe, Dulverton, and Bishops Lydeard districts under the Diseases of Animals Act.^[6] In 1925, he retired from practice and resigned as Veterinary Inspector.^[7] He then moved to Tottenham, where he undertook Quaker social work.^[8]

While living in Wiveliscombe, Brown was active in civic and religious affairs. He served as a justice of the peace for Somerset and sat in the local courts.^[8][9] In 1910 he was elected president of the Taunton and District Free Church Council.^[10]

Brown was active in the Adult School movement and worked to connect its members. He also served on the local School Board and the Council School Managers.^[11]

Initially a supporter of the Liberal Party, Brown assisted candidates in the West Somerset constituency. Later, he became a Labour sympathiser, helping James Lunnon in his campaign against Sir Arthur Griffith-Boscawen.^[8] He also served as the chairman of the Taunton and West Somerset Labour Party.^[11]

Although a Quaker, Brown maintained close ties with the Congregational Church and helped establish a branch of the Good Templars in Wiveliscombe. He also founded an Adult Bible Class for the congregation, which continued for many years. Brown supported the British and Foreign Bible Society and was active in promoting its work.^[11]

Brown was a prominent member of the Society of Friends in the West of England.^[8] In 1897, he was recorded as a minister by the West Division of Somerset Monthly Meeting.^[12] During the First World War, he was an active Quaker chaplain for conscientious objectors.^[8] He also committed himself to the Society of Friends' reconstruction efforts in the distressed areas of South Wales.^[8]

Brown was a vegetarian.^[13] He travelled around the country lecturing on anti-vivisection, peace, and temperance. He also served as president of the Prohibition Society.^[8]

In 1905, in association with the Friends' Anti-Vivisection Association, Brown delivered lectures on vivisection and animal rights, arguing that animals have the right to be protected from suffering.^[14] In 1919, at the request of the association, he compiled a series of lectures he had delivered on the subject, published under the title Our Lesser Brethren.^[15]

After the founding of the Cats Protection League in 1927, Brown joined its council.^[16] In 1929, he spoke out against blood sports at a Bristol meeting of the League for the Prohibition of Cruel Sports, stating:^[17]

Have you a right to torture animals for your pleasure? Have you a right to make their lives amid terror and misery in order to derive some measure of gratification from what are called the pleasures of the chase?

Brown married Emily Stripp at Looe, Cornwall, on 31 May 1888.^[18] They had two sons, Edgar and William.^[1] William later became editor of The Veterinary Journal.^[19]

On 28 June 1921, Brown was involved in a fatal motor accident in Taunton. Arthur Putman, 72, stepped into the road and was struck despite Brown's efforts to avoid him. A witness confirmed Brown was not at fault.^[20]

Brown died from heart failure in his sleep on 27 September 1931.^[8] He had celebrated his 70th birthday that month and was attending a Quaker conference at Welwyn Garden City.^[2] On 1 October, he was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium and a memorial was held at Friends House on Euston Road.^[8]

In December 1932, a new lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars in Wiveliscombe was established as the William Brown Memorial Lodge following a ceremony with visiting members and addresses on temperance.^[21]

• Our Lesser Brethren. London: Headley Brothers. 1919. OCLC 57291028.

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