Born on October 2nd, 1836, in the house in Preston (27 Winckley Square) where his father had practised and where he himself died. His father was Alderman Robert Brown (1801-1858), (qv), for thirty-five years a leading Preston practitioner. Robert Charles Brown was educated at Preston Grammar School till the age of 17, when he became a pupil of his father’s colleague, Thomas Dixon. In 1855 he entered King’s College Medical School, and was afterwards House Surgeon at the General Lying-in Hospital, Lambeth. His father died on February 1st, 1858, shortly before the son had obtained his first qualifications. It was necessary for him to earn his own living at once, and he became House Surgeon to the old Preston Dispensary. He held this post till 1863, but from time to time was enabled to put in periods of study in London, Edinburgh, and Dublin. In 1863 he began private practice, and was appointed Hon Medical Officer to the Dispensary, having been previously Senior Medical Officer. On the opening of the Preston and County of Lancashire Royal Infirmary in 1870 he was transferred to its staff as House Surgeon, afterwards becoming Physician and Consulting Physician. He was thus identified with its fortunes, having at the time of his death been for a long time the sole survivor of his original colleagues there. During a lifetime of practice in Preston he held a number of other appointments, and was Certifying Factory Surgeon, Medical Officer to the Lancs. County Constabulary, local Medical Officer for fifty years to the LNWR and Lancs and Yorks Railway Companies. He was also Consulting Medical Officer to the Orphanage and Deaf and Dumb School, and in the sixties was Assistant Surgeon to the 3rd Royal Lancashire Militia. He often had it in mind to proceed to the MD degree, and worked hard in preparing for it, once when he was 27 and again at the age of 64. On the first occasion he failed in logic and moral philosophy, then obligatory subjects; on the second, “although I had put down my name and paid the fees, I took fright and returned to Preston two days before the examination commenced, intending to go up in 1901, but I could never muster up courage to do so.” He referred to these events as ‘stupidity’, but was able to console himself with the many honours received in after-years from other quarters, such as a knighthood, the election to the Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians, the Cambridge Honorary Degree of MA, and the Freedom of Preston. This last honour was conferred upon him in recognition of his professional services and munificence to the Royal Infirmary and other institutions. He was also thrice elected by his local colleagues President of the Lancashire and Cheshire Branch of the British Medical Association, and was re-elected Chairman of the Preston Division for thirteen consecutive years. He had joined the Association in 1859, and at the Manchester Meeting of 1902 was Vice-President of the Section of Medicine. Sir Charles Brown’s benefactions in Preston were numerous and generous. He assisted in collecting funds towards the building of the original Royal Infirmary. After inspecting various operating theatres, writes Dr F W Collinson, Consulting Surgeon to the Infirmary, “He built, entirely at his own expense, a most up-to-date operating theatre, with all the necessary appurtenances. He also provided isolation wards, conservatories, and many other things, e.g., billiard tables for the comfort and welfare of the patients. When X rays were first introduced he defrayed the cost of an outfit, which was the best procurable at that time. From the year 1889 to the date of his death his gifts to the Infirmary amounted to more than £10,000. His great beneficence also showed itself in many other charitable organizations. Outside his native town he was ever ready to help in what he felt to be a good cause. Thus he generously supported the Cambridge Research Hospital.” From the first he had been intimately concerned in the work of the Cambridge Committee for the Study of Special Diseases, and his personal services to the hospital established by that committee in Hills Road, Cambridge, under the direction of Dr Strangeways, were unremitting. Besides a very complete X-ray installation, he provided a microphotographic apparatus of the latest type, and founded a studentship for pathological research. It was in recognition of these gifts that the University of Cambridge, on May 23rd, 1912, conferred on him the degree of Master of Arts *honoris causa*. The Public Orator, in presenting him for the degree, aptly described him as “medicus modestus, medicus munificus”. This honour from the University, of which his two brothers were members, gave him particular pleasure. On the following day the newly built Research Hospital was opened by him in the presence of a distinguished assembly of nearly five hundred people. After speaking with pride of the progress in the field of medicine which he had been privileged to see in his own lifetime, he said: “The future depends on research, and research into special diseases is not only important in itself for those diseases, but may throw new light and open new vistas everywhere.” Sir Charles Brown was somewhat of an ascetic. His self-discipline and self-denial, which arose from a religious conviction, were greatly to be admired. Yet he practised a delightful hospitality, and was most popular in his town and with his colleagues. He was full of interesting reminiscences of his early life, could remember the stage coach, and many professional changes. He was a keen lover of music, believing in its therapeutic value, and often woke his guests in the early morning with diapason notes of his organ. Much confined latterly to the house, which he only left now and then in a bath chair, he retained his mental clearness to the last, and died where he had lived on November 23rd, 1925. He never married. In his will he says: “I bequeath my body to the Directors of the Research Hospital, Cambridge, and authorize them to retain such parts of it as they consider may be suitable additions to their Pathological Museum.” Publications: Sir Charles Brown published some interesting reminiscences, at the age of 86, under the title, *Sixty-four Years a Doctor*. The work was dedicated to his old friend, exact contemporary, and correspondent Sir Clifford Allbutt, and the proceeds of its sale he gave to the Infirmary.