James Brown

James Brown (2 August 1815 – 12 March 1881) was a British printer, editor and political activist. Born in Liverpool, he moved to Douglas, Isle of Man, in 1846 where he founded The Isle of Man Times newspaper and played an important role in the democratisation of the island's House of Keys.

Early life Brown's father Daniel Brown married Elizabeth Gough in December 1810 at Holy Trinity Church, Liverpool. Elizabeth was from a family of merchants while Daniel, a mariner, was likely the son of Cato Brown. In 1920, when his son John recounted his family history, he recalled Cato as James's father, a freed slave who had settled in Liverpool via Nova Scotia, after a career in the Royal Navy where he claimed he had served with Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar on HMS Victory. However, later genealogical research showed that his father was Daniel and it was assumed Cato was his grandfather. When James was baptised in 1815 at St Peter's Church, Liverpool, his father's career was recorded as blacksmith. He had an older brother, John. He was then apprenticed to the printer George Wood of Price Street, going on to work in the print rooms of various Liverpool newspapers including the Liverpool Mercury. During his time in Liverpool, he sang in choirs and was known for his bass voice.

Publishing career Brown worked as a compositor at the Liverpool Mercury until he was invited to the Isle of Man in 1846 to work on the National Reformer, a paper run by Bronterre O'Brien

On 1 February 1849, the first edition of Brown's Advertising Circular was published. It was distributed freely and relied on advertisements for income. However, Brown and his son had ambitions to produce the island's newspaper of record, and merged their free paper into the Isle of Man Times and General Advertiser on 4 May 1861. The title had been used before, but the earlier title had folded in 1849. From the very first issue of the Times, Brown set out its radical and independent tone: "Many reforms are needed in the machinery of the legislature and government of this island, and we shall most strenuously urge these reforms upon the highest officials."

His son John Archibald Brown also edited The Times and in 1868 became a full partner of the firm James Brown & Sons, whose office was at 9 Athol Street, Douglas.

Criticism of the House of Keys and imprisonment

At the start of the 1860s, the Isle of Man's parliament, the Tynwald consisted of an upper house of Town Commissioners and the self appointed House of Keys. In 1863 the Town Commissioners applied for more powers, but were rejected by the House of Keys. Brown wrote critical articles that led to him being seen as a champion of democratic rights, while attracting the ire of the House of Keys. When a member of House of Keys suggested the Commissioners should be allowed powers over the donkeys on the beach, Brown published a remark that said "this elicited marks of approval from the donkeys around him".

Personal life Six months after the death of his wife Eleanor, he married Isabella Bromley, Eleanor's niece. He suffered a stroke and retired in 1877 and died on 12 March 1881. Brown was a freemason for 23 years and lodge secretary for eight.