John Brown (servant)
John Brown (8 December 1826 – 27 March 1883) was a Scottish personal attendant and favourite of Queen Victoria for many years after working as a ghillie for Prince Albert.[1] He was appreciated by many (including the Queen) for his competence and companionship, and resented by others (most notably her son and heir apparent, the future Edward VII, the rest of the Queen's children, ministers, and the palace staff) for his influence and informal manner. The exact nature of his relationship with Victoria was the subject of great speculation by contemporaries.
John Brown
8 December 1826
27 March 1883 (aged 56)
Crathie Kirk, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Ghillie & Personal Attendant
Early life[edit]
Brown was born on 8 December 1826 at Crathienaird, Crathie and Braemar Aberdeenshire, to Margaret Leys and John Brown,[2][3] and went to work as an outdoor servant (in Scots ghillie or gillie) at Balmoral Castle, which Queen Victoria and Prince Albert leased in February 1848, and purchased outright in November 1851.
Brown had several younger brothers and a sister, three of whom also entered the royal service. His brother Archibald Anderson "Archie" Brown, 15 years John's junior, eventually became personal valet to Victoria's youngest son, Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany.[4]
Design and manufacture of both medals were commissioned by Queen Victoria.
In popular culture[edit]
Gordon McLeod portrayed John Brown in Victoria the Great (1937), Sixty Glorious Years (1938) and The Prime Minister (1941).
Gerhard Bienert portrayed John Brown in Ohm Kruger (1941).
The 1950 film The Mudlark features John Brown at Windsor Castle, portrayed by Finlay Currie.
William Dysart portrayed John Brown in the TV series Edward the Seventh (1975).
The 1997 film Mrs Brown is the fictionalised story of John Brown. Sir Billy Connolly portrays Brown and Dame Judi Dench portrays Queen Victoria.