BROWNE, SIR THOMAS GORE (1807-87) was the son of Robert Browne, J.P., D.L., of Morton House, near Buckingham, and a brother of Bishop Harold Brown, of Winchester. Commissioned as ensign in the 44th Foot (1824), he exchanged into the 28th (lieutenant, 1826; captain, 1829). He was aide de camp to Lord Nugent, High Commissioner in the Ionian islands (1832-35) and acted for a time as Colonial Secretary. Obtaining his majority in 1834, he exchanged into the 41st regiment (1836), with which he served in the first Afghan war. For a time he commanded the regiment in the absence of the two colonels. He covered the retreat after the repulse of General England's force at Hykulzi (28 Mar 1842), forming a square and driving back the enemy. He was present at the action at Kandahar (29 May), the march on Kabul and the storming of Istalif. On the return through the Khyber pass he was frequently in action with the rearguard. (Brevet lieut.-colonel 1842; C.B., 1843.) Returning to England, Browne became lieut.-colonel of the 41st regiment (1845), exchanged into the 21st in 1849, and retired on half-pay in 1851 to assume the governorship of St Helena, where he enjoyed the local rank of colonel. There he solved the long-standing problem of the water supply. In 1854 Browne was appointed to succeed Sir George Grey in the governorship of New Zealand, the duties of which he assumed on 6 Sep 1855. In the political sphere there was nothing to worry him, since the controversy over responsible government had been fought to a conclusion under the administrator (Colonel Wynyard). Browne announced himself to the Parliament (which was in session) in a message in which he stated that he would adhere to the policy of maintaining the native title to their lands inviolate and securing to them the impartial administration of justice. A man of strong social instincts and warm friendships, he visited all the provinces during the recess. Shortly after his arrival the King movement in the Waikato became prominent. Native affairs were the governor's own responsibility. He was expected to consult his responsible advisers, but not necessarily to take their advice. Unfortunately Browne did not bestir himself sufficiently to form an independent opinion on native affairs and he never acquired a personal influence over the native mind. Quite early he made the unpardonable mistake of declining to see an influential chief (Wiremu Tamihana te Waharoa, of Ngati-Haua) who wished to lay before him the grievances that were entertained by the King tribes. Tamihana accordingly threw in his lot with the Maori king. In May 1857 Browne showed a more approachable disposition at a native gathering at Rangiriri and he met some chiefs in runanga near Auckland. He made a grave mistake in yielding to the clamour of merchants and revoking Grey's wise order against supplying firearms and ammunition to natives.

Stafford, the Premier, was absent in England when Browne, accompanied by C. W. Richmond (acting leader of the Government) and McLean (native secretary) met a number of Maori chiefs at New Plymouth. Teira offered to sell to the Government 600 acres at Waitara, and Browne agreed to purchase if Teira's title was valid. Wiremu Kingi te Rangitake, the paramount chief of the Ngati-Awa, declared firmly that he would not permit the sale. Ignorant as he was of Maori law, and regarding Rangitake's demeanour as discourteous and offensive to himself, Browne was determined to proceed with the purchase. Commissioners were accordingly sent to Taranaki to ascertain whether the title of Teira was good. They reported (wrongly) in the affirmative, and Browne gave orders on 25 Jan 1860 to proceed with the survey, under military protection if necessary, and to hold the block by force if there should be any resistance on the part of Wiremu Kingi. On 1 Mar he himself arrived at Taranaki with the available troops, and a blockhouse was built for the protection of the civil population. On the 13th and 14th the block was surveyed under military protection. Next day Wiremu Kingi erected a pa and burned the survey pegs. The pa was accordingly attacked (17 Mar) and destroyed after two days' operations.

Browne appealed to Australia for more troops and some hundreds of women and children were sent for refuge to Nelson. Desultory operations continued, including the battles of Waireka, Puketakauere and Mahoetahi. At an early stage Bishop Selwyn courageously intervened to protest against the unjust treatment of Wiremu Kingi. A great Maori gathering at Otaki (at which Archdeacon Hadfield was present) demanded the recall of Gore Browne. In Waikato the King chiefs, though not directly concerned, discussed the events in Taranaki and resented the action of the Governor in making war without first consulting the friendly chiefs. McLean left the meeting to avoid seeing the King flag hoisted. A few days later the benevolent old King, Te Wherowhero, died. Sir William Denison, the governor of New South Wales, loyally sent what troops he could in response to Browne's request, but he wrote to Browne strongly advising him to adopt a different policy towards the natives. Stafford, having now returned to the colony, loyally adopted the policy of the Governor, on the ground that the executive had advised him and fully concurred in the course he had taken. The House of Representatives gave its confidence by 19 votes to 17 (11 Sep 1860). During the session Hadfield and McLean appeared at the bar of the House to undergo searching examination. After the prorogation of Parliament Browne and Richmond together attended the gathering of chiefs at Orakei (Nov 1860) and on 5 Feb 1861 Browne received a deputation of seven chiefs (from Auckland, Waikato, Thames and Otaki) who made proposals of peace, one of the conditions being that the Waitara dispute should be decided by the courts. The Governor would not accept the terms; there must be restitution of plunder taken from settlers, compensation for their losses, and a due recognition of British law for the future. McLean, with the Governor's permission, accompanied the King chiefs back to Taranaki and persuaded Wiremu Tamihana to lead his taua of 400 back to their homes and Wiremu Kingi to retire inland.

Browne then visited Taranaki with Richmond and Whitaker (the attorney-general) and again made a mistake by refusing to receive Wiremu Kingi's daughter as a mediator (27 Mar 1861). He now offered terms of peace which included the investigation of Teira's title, but the survey was to proceed and the Governor was to retain all land belonging to the rebels which the troops were occupying, and the Ngati-Awa were to submit quietly to the law and not again to seek redress for grievances by force. The arrival of General Cameron from Australia just as the terms were about to be accepted caused a complete change in the position (30 Mar). On 8 Apr harsher terms were dictated, nothing was said about examining the Waitara title, and the settlers were promised that they would soon be able to return to their farms. In May a truce was agreed to, and on 3 Jun Browne opened Parliament, laying on the table the terms which he had now offered, which included a demand for restitution and compensation against the natives, but promised an investigation of the Waitara title. More alarming was the determination of the Governor to regard the King movement in itself as a cause of war and to invade the Waikato, towards which Cameron had already moved his artillery from Taranaki.

At this stage the ministry was defeated on its native policy (12 Jul 1861) and Fox came into power. A week or two later (27 Jul) the Governor received a despatch from the Duke of Newcastle (dated 25 May 1861) informing him that he was to be relieved and that Sir George Grey was to succeed him. The Duke wrote: 'I recognise with pleasure the sound and impartial judgment, the integrity, intelligence and anxiety for the public good which have characterised your government. The present juncture, however, renders it necessary to leave no expedient untried which is calculated to arrest the course of events, now unhappily so unpromising, and at the same time to provide for future difficulties, which there is only too much reason to anticipate even if the war should soon be brought to a conclusion.' He felt he would be neglecting a chance of averting a more general and disastrous war if he 'omitted to avail himself of the remarkable authority which would attach to the name and character of Grey as governor.' In the flush of sympathy for Browne, Richmond and Stafford challenged the Government with a no-confidence resolution, which was defeated by 26 to 25 (29 Jul).

Soon after assuming office, Grey withdrew the manifesto addressed by Governor Browne to the disaffected natives and approached the problem by promising to investigate the Waitara purchase and announcing a number of bills to extend to natives all over New Zealand a liberal system of local government. Browne left for Sydney in October and a few months later was appointed to the governorship of Tasmania. He was made K.C.M.G. in 1869, was Governor of Bermuda (1870-71) and died in London on 17 Aug 1887. Browne married Harriet, daughter of James Campbell, of Craigie, Ayrshire. Historians agree generally with Gisborne that Browne was distinguished for his singleness of heart, his devotion to what he held to be his duty, and many sterling and attractive qualities. His letters, preserved in the Richmond and Stafford collections, give evidence of a fine humanity, a high idealism and lofty devotion to duty. Socially he had a host of friends. In spite of the tragedy of his rule in New Zealand he left the reputation of a high-minded, well-meaning and eminently able administrator whose failure was due more to the conditions of his task than to any lack of ability on his part.

G.B.O.P., 1856-62; Saunders; Gudgeon (p); D.N.B.; App. H.R. (specially 1856-62); Hansard; Lomax, Hist. of the 41st Regiment; Gisborne (p); Rusden; Mennell; Cowan; Lovat.

Reference: Volume 1, page 69

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