BROWN, Thomas Richard. Whatton, Nottinghamshire 1791 — Southwark, West Sussex 1.9.1875. British Priest and a Self-Made Scholar. Son of Richard Brown of Cambridge. From 1810 studies at St. John’s College, Cambridge (B.A. 1815, M.A. 1820). Ordained deacon 1815, priest 1818. Some time in orders, in 1834 nominated to the vicarage of Southwick, Northamptonshire. As a scholar he proposed extremely curious ideas. After Grotefend and Rawlinson he interpreted the cuneiform inscription of Persepolis as describing the procession and presentation of Job, as a rich man, to the Shah of Persia. Also “translated” the Rosetta stone and even tackled Chinese! Without being able to check, one can only wonder, what his book on Sanskrit was like.

Publications: Published several studies on Hebrew and other philological subjects, all on his own expense, and often in few copies only.

– The Essentials of Sanscrit Grammar. 140 p. Southwick 1851.

Sources: Br. Biogr. Arch.