Thomas Browne, 4th Viscount Kenmare

Father of Thomas Browne. The 3rd Viscount Kenmare, Valentine Browne by Kneller Thomas Browne, 6th Baronet & 4th Viscount Kenmare (April 1726 – 11 September 1795) was an Irish landowner and politician.

Family Thomas Browne's father, Valentine Browne (1695–1736), 5th Baronet and 3rd Viscount Kenmare, was one of the few remaining Roman Catholic landowners in Ireland. His first wife, Honora Butler (?-1730) gave birth to four children, the second of whom was Thomas. The 3rd Viscount built Kenmare House, in Killarney, County Kerry in 1726. This site would become the main residence of the Browne family for the next three centuries. Thomas Browne inherited the estate and the house upon the death of his father in 1736 but did not make the site his permanent place of residence until the mid-1750s. In 1750, he married Anne Cooke, daughter of Thomas Cooke of Painstown, County Carlow. The pair had two children; Valentine (b.1754) and Katherine(?). The family resided in Dublin between December 1753 and July 1754 but settled in Killarney following this brief absence. He spent four years studying here before moving on to enrol at Oxford. There were many attempts to convert him to the Church of England faith throughout his studies. Eager to improve the town, he also invested the profit earned at his salmon fisheries into public works. Browne was aided by his family in this tourism venture. His sister travelled Europe and encouraged people to visit Killarney, lauding the town's beauty.

Death and legacy Lord Kenmare died in Killarney on 11 September 1795, and was succeeded by his son Valentine Browne (1754–1812), who maintained his father's political stance, and was created earl of Kenmare in 1801.