Thomas Brown

Thomas Brown (1 December 1811 – 11 December 1889) was a Scottish-born Australian politician.

He was born at Craighead, the son of David Brown. Around 1838 he married Mary Maxwell; they had no children.

He migrated to Australia around 1839 and managed a flourmill for Andrew Brown at Cooerwull near Lithgow, New South Wales. The two men were unrelated although both were Scottish Presbyterian farmers. In 1840 Thomas Brown purchased 210 acres (85 hectares) adjoining Cooerwull. Over the next few years he added considerably to his holdings, circumventing the Lands Act 1861 (NSW). This he did through the use of a 'dummy', or proxy, a local carpenter named Robert Pitt. Brown named his lands the 'Esk Bank Estate' after a village on the River Esk, near his birthplace. and was on both sides of the Bells Line of Road. In 1841 he built Eskbank House. resigning in 1872. and was re-elected at the 1874 election. In October 1875 Thomas Brown responded to a tender for the supply of coal to the railway, however no contract was awarded. In December 1875 a fresh tender was called and William Pitt personally submitted a tender which was accepted. Samuel Gray said in the Legislative Assembly that Thomas Brown leased the colliery to William Pitt and that the only connection between them was one of landlord and tenant.

After the Committee report was tabled Thomas Brown attempted to resign, however the Legislative Assembly adopted the report of the Committee and declared the seat was vacant.

Brown died at St Leonards on .