DEATH OF

SIR JOHN BROWN.

Sir John Brown, a man whose services to Sheffield would be difficult to over-estimate, died yesterday at Bromley, at the age of 80 years. His was a long and useful life, and, it was a matter of regret to many that his closing years were spent under the shadow of impaired fortune and mental and physical decay. Sir John was a justice of the peace for the city of Sheffield and the West Riding, and a deputy lieutenant of the county. His death will cause little or no surprise. For years it had been known that his health had been gradually failing. Many years ago he found it necessary to spend the winter months in the South of England and his general custom was to go to Torquay and return to Sheffield with the warmer weather. As his strength decreased, his absence from his native town became more frequent and of longer duration. A year or two ago the connection ceased altogether. To the regret or many, Sir John decided to sell Endcliffe Hall but as purchaser could be found for it he instructed Messrs. Maple and Company, of London to sell the contents of the mansion by auction. The sale, which took place at the hall, lasted a week and attracted buyers from all parts of the country, Sir John having spent money lavishly in the furnishing of his palatial home. After the dispersal of the goods, the house was left to a caretaker. No buyer could be found and for some time the weed choked walks and other evidence of neglect in the once beautiful grounds added the finishing touches to a melancholy picture. Recently, however, the hall and estate were purchased by a syndicate, who are now offering the land in building lots, and the hall itself is frequently used for social functions. Endcliffe Hall, which has been described as the finest and best planned private residence in the neighbourhood of Sheffield, was erected in l864 by Sir John Brown on the site of the old hall, which he purchased from Mr. Henry Wilkinson. It is in the Italian style of architecture, contains many noble apartments, and stands in beautiful grounds of about 40 acres in extent. Messrs. Flockton and Gibbs were the architects.

So almost entirely had Sir John Brown dropped out of the public life of the town that the present generation can form no adequate conception of the large space he once filled in it. They will probably read with interest how from being an unknown boy be came to be one of Sheffield’s foremost citizens; how by his energy and enterprise be brought new industries to the town which found employment for thousands; how when most actively engaged as an inventor and manufacturer in building up a colossal business he found time to serve the town of his birth as a councillor and alderman, as Mayor and Master Cutler, as magistrate and Town Trustee, and later on as chairman of the School Board, and in other ways; and how at the same time he took the keenest and most generous interest in all movements having for their object the improvement – socially, morally, and religiously – of the people. The career of Sir John Brown is practically the history of Sheffield for the past half-century, and it is not too much to say that the making of that history he played a larger and more distinguished part than any other man of his time. Sheffield is rich in monuments of his industry and enterprise; of his public spirit and large-hearted generosity; and the time is far distant when the memory of what he was and what he did will cease to be cherished amongst us.

The deceased gentleman was the second surviving son of Samuel Brown, a slater in the town – a man of only moderate means, but possessed of remarkable individuality and force of character. John was born in Favell's Yard, Fargate, in 1816; and he would have been something more than a prophet who had ventured to predict, what a remarkable life had then commenced, and how great an influence it would exert upon the leading industries of the town. The boy was sent to a school conducted by Mr. Robert Thompson, familiarly known amongst his pupils as "old Bobby." The cottage still stands in Portobello in the garret of which this Sheffield pedagogue gave instruction to the rising youth. Master Brown's manner of replying to questions addressed to him by Mr. Thompson was so brusque as to excite the merriment of the scholars and to offend the dignity of the master. One girl, three years older than John Brown, who sat on a form opposite to him; was so impressed by the hazardous conduct of the lad that she went home and told her father of the punishment which inevitably awaited him. The little girl was Mary Schofield, better known in after years as the kind and generous and sympathetic Lady Brown – the partner through a great portion of the long and eventful life of the boy about whose daring conduct in the garret school she was so much concerned. Her anxiety for him proved to be groundless for he became one of his master's favourites, and received his commendation for his proficiency in the English language. John Brown afterwards went to the school kept by Mr. Wilkinson in Broomhall Park.

HIS COMMERCIAL CAREER.

When young Brown had reached his 14th year his father proposed to make him a linen draper, but to his surprise the lad scorned the idea. " Why not?” his father asked and his reply was "I do not know, but I will never be a linen draper." Further remonstrances had the effect, first, of drawing from the boy the solemn assurance that if the father insisted upon putting him to that trade he would run away and go to sea; and next of leading the parent to ask what trade his son preferred. "A merchant" was the prompt answer. "I should like to be a merchant," and the reason he gave for his choice was "that a merchant did business with all the world." The boy had gone about with his eyes open and his ambition had been kindled at the sight of the large establishments belonging to merchants and the commanding position they occupied in the world and he wished to emulate their example. The retiring, sober-minded father was appalled at the ambitious notions of the son but the more he expostulated and tried to persuade the more the son expressed his preference to become a merchant. Astonished at his son's determination and self-confidence the father consulted the old schoolmaster, who advised him to yield to the wishes of the boy, remarking that the very fact of his desiring to become a merchant showed that there was something in him, for he did not think there was another boy in the school who knew what the word meant. The advice thus tendered was acted upon, and at the age of 14 John Brown was apprenticed to Messrs. Earl, Horton, and Co., a firm of merchants or factors who dealt in the staple wares of the town. For the first two years he received no wages; but during the last five years he got 6s. per week! He showed a remarkable aptitude for business, was civil, industrious and painstaking; and he early won the esteem and goodwill of his employers. He had convinced himself that he must be the architect of his own fortunes, and he sedulously improved every opportunity that could increase his knowledge of the business or strengthen the confidence of his employers in him. When his apprenticeship expired his father presented him with a suit of clothes and a sovereign and told turn that for his future success he must rely on his own resources. The indenture of apprenticeship remained in the possession of Sir John, who regarded it as one of his most valued treasures.

HIS FIRST OPPORTUNITY.

Important changes in the business of the firm soon opened out wh.at, to young Brown was a golden opportunity. At the time of his first association with Messrs. Earl, Horton, and Co. their works were in Orchard place; but six years later they commenced the manufacture of steel files and table cutlery, and removing to Rockingham street, estab1ished the Hallamshire Works. A few months after Mr. Brown came of age he was astonished and surprised to receive from Mr. Earl an offer of a share in the business. Want of capital prevented him from availing himself of this generous offer, whereupon Mr. Earl asked him to accept the factory portion of the business, at the same time undertaking to provide him with the means necessary to conduct it.  This opportunity was too good to be lost; and full of hope and courage Mr. Brown set himself to work to find the necessary capital, preferring to negotiate a loan on his own account to receiving assistance from his employers. He succeeded in getting his father and one of his uncles to join in guaranteeing £500, which a local bank agreed to advance. With that money he bought tbe business, and entered upon it with an ammout of energy and spirit that astonished older men. Setting up a horse and gig, to be subsequently exchanged for a four-wheeled sample coach, he travelled through the country, carrying his own samples and soliciting orders. With such industry and perseverance it was to he expected that his business would increase, and one extension after another had to be made to his works to keep pace with it. Up to this period he had retailed the cutlery made by others; but now he determined to make his own, and the taste for production developing, he had a strong desire to embark in the steel trade. Before entering upon that branch, however, he asked the consent of his former employers, as, he was unwilling to provoke competition with those to whom he was so much indebted. The desired consent was readily granted, and in 1844 he commenced the manufacture of steel an small premises in Orchard street. To the production and application or this metal he forthwith devoted his chief attention and resources. His industry prospered and grew so rapidly that he disposed of his factory business to Messrs. H. G. Long and Co., and removing to more suitable premises in Furnina1 street, he gave them the name or the "Atlas Stee1 Works," and there he applied himself exclusively to the production or steel files and railway springs. For several years these articles were his main manufactures; but another railway speciality was destined to carry him into the full tide of prosperity which he afterwards enjoyed. Up to 1848 railway rolling stock presented an appearance which would now appear strange, it was practically bufferless. Mr. Brown saw here a necessity which would soon become imperative and he patented the conical spring buffer. Its success, for a novelty appealing to railway companies was prompt, but. by and by it became overwhelming. His first. customers for it were the Taff Vale Railway Company, the Glasgow and South-Western, and the Dublin and Drogheda Companies. Before long he was turning out 150 sets per week. Shop after shop was added to his parent establishment in Furnival street, in various parts of the town, and a spring shop was taken at Rotherham. The inconvenience of these scattered branches became so oppressive that he began to cast about for an opportunity to concentrate and consolidate, and one came sooner than he had anticipated.

WE WILL BE FOREMOST.

In 1855 Messrs. Armitage, Frankish, and Barker of the Queen's Steel Works, Savile street, failed, and in October of that year the works were offered for sale. They had been erected, including the machinery, at a cost of £24,000. The first offer of £10,000 was made on behalf of Mr. John Miller, of Wadsley House, but the bidding was taken up by Mr. John Brown, and at £12,000 he was declared the purchaser. Immediate preparations weft commenced by Mr. Brown for moving the various departments of his business to Savile street, and with so much activity that, they were ready for opening on the lst of January in the following year; and the occasion was one of great rejoicing on the part of all connected with the firm. In the evening Mr. Brown entertained his clerks and work-people, to the number or 220, to dinner, in the large room of Messrs. Baines and People, Union street. Mr. Brown presided and the vice-presidents were Mr. G. Tilford and Mr. Ellis. “On the cross-table," we are informed, "was placed a splendid silver epergne presented to Mr. Brown a short time before, by the officials connected with the works as a testimonial of their high esteem for him as an employer." In proposing the health of " out brave ally the Emperor of the French," the chairman spoke of the recent visit he had paid to the Paris Exhibition. His description of what he saw and the effect it produced upon his mind, deserve to be recalled:– "At the Paris Exhibition he was amazed and annoyed to find there a monster ingot of steel from Rhenish Prussia of a size and weight which they in Sheffield were in the habit of supposing could not be made. His feeling was ‘We will not be beaten.’ They would scarcely credit it, nor should he had he not seen it, with his own eyes; but in the Paris Exhibition there was shown from this Prussian manufactory an ingot of steel, cast in a mould and weighing no less than 10 tons. This was reared up in the midst of a collection of the most extraordinary productions that had yet come under his notice – cast steel crank-axles weighing five tons! While they had been thinking that they were teaching the continental manufacturers in steel, they found that they had something to learn from them. He spoke of the other remarkable productions in cast steel that he saw in the exhibition, and said, had he been asked whether an ingot of steel could be cast or the enormous weight of 10 tons, he should have replied, ‘The thing is impossible.’ But he could not say so now, for he had the evidence of his own eyes to the contrary. As a Sheffield manufacturer the marked progress of the continental manufacturers in steel, springs, files, cutlery, and edge tools was to him not only a matter of surprise but of considerable annoyance. As Englishmen they must, set their shoulders to the wheel and say, 'We have been foremost, and we will be foremost still.' Read in the light of what has since been accomplished at the Atlas Works these expressions of astonishment at the performances of the Prussians, and the determination not to be beaten by them are remarkable and reveal much of the character of the man who uttered them.

BESSEMER STEEL.

The site or the new Atlas Works covered three acres, of which only about one-third was built upon. Up to this time the neighbourhood still retained something of its sylvan beauty, and from the office windows could be seen wild flowers blossoming in truly rural luxuriance, waving cornfields, and charming wooded retreats. How all that has since changed, and the district become a wilderness of works and cottage houses is matter of history. The works had not changed hands three years before the whole of the land had been built upon, the machinery enlarged and renewed, and more space required. Mr. Brown had by this time embarked upon the manufacture of iron, fit for conversion into steel, an experiment which not only greatly increased his business but gave an enormous impetus to the iron and steel trades of the whole of South Yorkshire. To carry out his purpose iron of a superior quality was required, and for which the country was dependent upon Sweden and Russia. He thought it possible to produce the iron in his own works. All the raw material was as cheap and abundant in Sheffield as it was in either Sweden or Russia, and he believed that a great saving could be effected by making them at home. In 1857 he commenced its manufacture, and the experiment, as already indicated, was attended with the most signal success. The plant set in motion consisted of six puddling furnaces, a balling furnace, a mill furnace, and two Nasmyth hammers. The iron turned out was all that could be desired in point of quality, and it was cheaper than what had been obtained from foreign firms, and the more it became known the more rapidly the demand for it increased. There was no cessation to the demand, and further extensions of the works were resolved upon. In June, l859, the Midland Railway, which bounded the back of the premises, was crossed, and on the other side the foundation stone of new works was laid. In the January following, when considerable progress had been made with the new premise a violent storm swept over the district, and blew down half of the roof. It was Sunday morning, and knowing that the principal would be at the Parish Church, a messenger was despatched to inform him of the disaster. He was called out and seeing his agitated workman, he asked, "What is the matter?" The reply was "It is all down, sir." "What's down?" "The roof of the new works: it has blown down." Mr. Brown quietly replied, "Then go to Harvey, and tell him to arrange for putting it up again," and returned to his seat to hear the sermon. The disaster was repaired as speedily as possible, and in about six months the new works were in operation. Furnace after furnace was erected; mill after mill was put down, until in course of time the works covered an area of upwards of 20 acres. It was soon found that the iron which was so useful for steel making, was also valuable for the production of plates for boilers, bridges, ships, and other purposes.

Mr. Brown was one of the first ironmasters to recognize the value and importance of the Bessemer process of manufacturing steel. In his new works it was intended to produce steel by puddling but when he saw the Bessemer converter in successfu1 operation he was so convinced or its utility that he at once obtained a licence to work the patent. One fact might be mentioned to show what a revolution in quotations this process caused. Up to that time railway wheel tyres had sold at £90 per ton; made of Bessemer steel they could be sold at from £20 to £25 per ton, and the tensile strength of the new metal was much greater than that of the Yorkshire iron. In the following year Mr. Brown commenced the manufacture or railway rails from Bessemer steel; but at first there was strong opposition to them and the cost was against their general adoption. Their superiority, however, over the iron rails manifested itself in so pronounced a manner that, all the leading railway companies took them up and at one time the Atlas Works were turning out 1200 tons of these rails per week. The competition became so keen and prices so low that their production at these works has long since been abandoned.

HIS FIRST ARMOUR PLATE.

By this time Mr. Brown's fame as a manufacturer of iron of railway material and of thin plates was established. He was now on the threshold of yet greater discoveries; discoveries that were to assist in revolutionising the navies or the world, and to render obsolete the "wooden walls" of which Englishmen had for centuries been so proud. Although England was then, as she is now, the first naval Power in the world, she was very slow in adopting a change in the mode of constructing her war vessels. America had provided herself with turret ship's, Austria with torpedoes, Germany with pebble powder, and France had her La Gloire, but the English Government were still waiting – uncertain what course to take. In the autumn of 1860 Mr. Brown was making a tour of the Continent and was at Toulon when the La Gloire came into the harbour. He had heard of this singular vessel, and his curiosity was excited. Originally she was a timber-built three-decker; but her decks had been cut down, and the portions not under water bad been covered with plates four and a half inches in thickness. The English Government, which had not one ironclad, heard with some consternation that the La Gloire had been put in commission, and at once set to work to prepare ten large wooden men-of-war for armour plating. Sir John was aware of this fact; he was convinced that in the production of thick plates there was an unlimited field for his energy and his enterprise. He desired to become more intimately acquainted with the La Gloire, and asked to be allowed to go on board, but that favour was refused. He, however, made as minute an inspection of the vessel as he possibly could, and ascertained not only the exact size and thickness of the plates but also that they were made by hammering. After carefu1ly thinking the matter over he came to the conclusion that he could make thicker, larger, and tougher plates by rolling than the French could by hammering, and he returned home, his mind full of the new enterprise. To carry it out involved a large outlay and great responsibility, but he was not the man to be deterred by difficulties.He erected a rolling mill larger and more powerful than any that had preceded it, and personally directed the operations of a band of chosen workmen. After much labour and anxiety the Atlas Works succeeded in producing plates 4½ inches in thickness; plates that came off victorious in the tests to which they were subjected in competition with the forged plates sent out from the Government dock-yards. A few shots were sufficient to knock the Government plates to pieces, but the Atlas plates appeared invulnerable after twice as many blows. At the exhibition of 1862 and at the French Exhibition of 1867, Mr. Brown received the gold medal for his armour-plates.

SIR JOHN BROWN AND THE GOVERNMENT.

The fame of the Atlas Works had by these wonderful productions become world-wide; and even in high quarters a desire was expressed to see the operation of rolling an armour p1ate. In August 1862, and when Mr. Brown was occupying the position of Mayor, he was honoured with a visit from Lord Palmerston, who was then Premier of England. His lordship was met at the station by the Mayor and Corporation, the magistrates, and representatives of other public bodies, and an immense concourse of spectators. In the evening his lordship, who was the guest of the Mayor at Shirle Hill, was entertained by his Worship at a banquet at the Cutlers’ Hall at which were present Mr. Roebuck, M.P., Mr. Hadfield, M.P., and many of the leading gentry of the town and neighbourhood. The following morning Lord Palmerston visited the Atlas Works, and under the guidance of his host saw some of the more important industries there carried on. The most notable incident was the rolling of an armour plate 3ft. 9in. wide, 18ft. 6in. long, 5½in. thick, and weighing over six tons – a perfect monster in those days but dwarfed almost into insignificance by what has been since accomplished.

Great as had been the achievements of the head of the Atlas Works, he was far from satisfied with what had been accomplished. He had furnished an armour plate capable of resisting any shot that might be fired from the heaviest gun then in existence. How long that state of things might last was open to the greatest uncertaintry. He knew that as he had been preparing to roll a plate of increased thickness and resisting power his neighbours, Messrs. Thomas Firth and Sons, were assisting by the enormous ingots of stee1 they were turning out to increase the power of the artillery which would knock such plates into pieces. Mr. Brown put himself into communication with the Government upon the subject, and pointed out that against the new and more powerful armaments which were then in course of manufacture vessels coated with 4½in. plates would be as vulnerable as were the old wooden ships to shots fired from the guns then in use. He with that keen foresight which so characterised him in his business life, saw that a formidable struggle had commenced between guns versus plates; a struggle which must in the very nature of things be continued for years, and the ultimate result of which the wisest man would hesitate too speak with any degree of certainty. Mr. Brown felt that his business was to produce plates of ever increasing thickness and power of resistance; and he made an offer to the Government to roll three plates of five, seven, and eight inches in thickness respectively; an offer which was regared by some with incredulity – as something that it was impossible to accomplish. So confident was he of success that he offered to bear the entire cost of the experiments it the plates so rolled failed to resist the shot that penetrated the 4¼in. plates. He knew perfectly well the ground upon which be was walking; that he had only to go on increasing the size and capabilities of his machinery to be able to roll a plate or almost any size or thickness that might be required. Upon the ground obtained on the north side of the railway he erected a new rolling mill; larger than anything yet attempted and filled it with machinery of the newest description, and of the most powerful character. The rolling mill proper was 250 feet in length, and 150 feet in width. It contained two sets of rolls 32 inches in diameter, and eight feet in length. They were surrounded by all the appliances necessary for carrying on what were then regarded as the astonishing operations of the mill. Beyond the new mill was erected a new planing and slotting shop, 220 feet long and 75feet wide. By this time the Atlas Works covered 14 acres of ground and about £200,000 had been spent in their erection. The number of men employed totaled nearly 2500. In the works 45 engines were employed and 60 puddling furnaces. About. 2000 tons of coal per week was consumed and the outgoings had reached upwards of £1000 a day.

The opening of the new mill was an occasion memorable in the history or the town. It took place on the 9th of April, 1863, and was attended by the Lords of the Admiralty, and other noblemen and most of the leading citizens. Amongst those present were the Duke of Newcastle, the Duke of Devonshire, Lord Clarence Paget, Earl Fitzwilliam, Earl de Grey and Ripon, Lord Wharncliffe, Lord A. Paget, Mr. J. A. Roebuck, M.P., etc. The Lords of the Admiralty assembled in the dining room at the works, and there they were presented by the Corporation with an address of welcome to t he town. The Duke of Somerset acknowledged the address, Mr. Brown conducted his distinguished visitors over the works, coming in due course to the new mill, where nearly 1000 persons had already assembled. There Mr. Brown was able to more than redeem his promise. After several plates had been rolled of various thicknesses, a supreme effort was made, and a plate was produced l2in. thick, and nearly 20 feet in length.

When the monster plate was thrown out upon the floor, finished the result was received with prolonged applause, in which both visitors and workmen joined. Mr. Cooke, the foreman of the rollers was afterwards introduced to the noble lords, who congratulated him on the complete success of the day's operations. Mr. Brown conducted the Duke of Somerset round the rolls, to look at the plate. The men cheered on his approach, and their employer addressing them said, “We are all proud of your exploits; you are worthy of the name of Englishmen. His Grace the Duke of Somerset wishes me to express his admiration of what you have done.” Mr. Brown afterwards entertained his principal guests to a splendid collation prepared in the dining room of the works.

"Punch" published a very amusing and characteristic account of the proceedings in the course of which occurred the following descriptive passage:–

"The brawny giants suddenly drew open the door of a vast furnace, and you had an idea that a large piece of blazing fire had got in there by accident, and it was about as possible to look in the face of the fire as of Phoebus. Then, tugged forth by the giants, out came a large stab of red hot metal, just the thing for a dining table in Pandemonium, and it was received upon a mighty iron truck, and hurried along to the jaws of the rolling machine. As it was drawn fiercely into the mill a volcano broke out, and the air was tilled with a shower of fire-spangles of the largest construction, and eminently calculated to make holes in your garments. The monster slab was so mercilessly taken in hand by the mighty wheels, and was hurled backwards and forwards under terrific pressure, and so squeezed and rolled, and consolidated that when at length it was flung, exhausted as it were, upon the iron floor beyond, Mr. Punch was reminded of the way in which he has dealt with, improved, and educated the public mind for the past 20 years."

This visit of the Lords or the Admiralty to Sheffield was a memorable day for the principal of the Atlas Works. When the thick plates which had been rolled came to be tested the results were declared to be so satisfactory that orders were given for them to be paid for. Mr. Brown now took almost without dispute the foremost position amongst the world's manufacturers of thick armour plates, and as the cry was for larger and thicker plates, it was determined to put down machinery to roll plates three times the length and double the width of any that were then produced, and the development was continued until plates 24 inches in thickness and of proportionate dimensions were rolled. In the extension of these mills something like £200,000 was spent. Twenty years had now elapsed since Mr. Brown removed into Savile street. And a few figures will suffice to show the marvellous progress the business had made in that period. In 1857 the works covered just one acre, in 1867 they covered 21 acres. At the former date the Atlas Works gave employment to about. 200 hands, in 1867 they numbered fully 4000. The first year Mr. Brown was in business his turnover barely reached £3000; it now touched £1,000,0OO. Mr. Brown was, not only the architect of his own fortunes, but he was the architect of his own works. He not only planned the buildings as they were needed, but most of the machinery used in the production of plates, forgings, railway bars, steel springs, and railway material generally was either wholly designed or improved by himself.

OTHER COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATIONS.

It should have been stated that in 1859 Mr. Brown associated with himself in the business Mr. J. D. Ellis and Mr. William Bragge; and under their united management we business was continued flown to 1864, when it was registered as a limited liability concern, with a capita1 of £1,000.000. For goodwill Mr. Brown received £200,000. He was chairman of the company, and his partners became managing directors. Success continued to attend the carrying on of the works. The total profit in the first year after the company was formed was put down at £77,438, of which £22,735 was carried to a reserve fund. The shares then stood at 14½ premium. In 1871 Sir John retired from the chairmanship, and his connection with the Atlas Works practically ceased.

In December 1859, a company of rifle volunteers was raised by Mr. Brown, consisting mainly of men employed at the Atlas Works. The formation or the company received the sanction and approval of the War Office, and Mr. Brown was gazetted the captain of the corps, Mr. M. Waterhouse being the lieutenant, and Mr. J. D. Ellis ensign. In January, l860, Mr. Brown was gazetted to a similar position in connection with the Hallamshire Rifles.

In Mr. George Brown, his nephew, Sir John always took the deepest interest, and it was his intention at one time to leave him a considerable portion of his fortune. Sir John having severed his connection with the Atlas Works, advanced Mr. Brown a large sum or money with which to join Mr. Bayley who was formerly his traveller, and Mr. Dixon, in business. The firm was established, and the extensive works at Attercliffe were erected just at the time when trade was at its full tide and prices were unprecedentedly high. The new firm of Brown, Bayley, and Dixon did well at first; and then depression set in and the parties finding themselves unable to cope with the difficulties that surrounded them converted the concern into a limited company. Mr. George Brown's health broke down, and his subsequent death was a great loss to the company. Sir John Brown's connection with Earle's Shipbuilding Company, at Hull, was a source of great anxiety to him. It was formed we believe, with Sir James Heard and Sir Spencer Robinson as its leading spirits, and they entered into some big speculations, which turned out very disastrous - one or the worst, perhaps, being the construction of the Bessemer saloon ship, In 1874, when the company was in low water, Sir John was appointed its chairman, and as the result of his energy and enterprise it revived, and entered on a more successful career. The company secured contracts for constructing some of the Monarch line of steamers, and other important work alike for companies and for the Government.

After Sir John had commenced the manufacture of iron at the Atlas Works he cast about for additional sources whence to obtain iron ore. As a result, he, with the late Mr. William Fowler, purchased Galdames Mountains, in the extreme north of Spain, near the French frontier, in the Province of Biscaya. The mountain was believed to he one mass of ore, which would yield from 50 to 60 per cent, of metallic iron. No mining of any kind was required; the ore had only to be fetched away. The Bilbao Iron Ore Company was formed to work the ore and Sir John was appointed its chairman. A dock was constructed on the Bilbao River, and railway was laid to the foot of the mountain. When everything was almost in readiness to commence operations and to win a return on the capital sunk the Carlist War broke out, and for some years that part of Spain was in a state of unsettledness. That period passed away, and the company worked the ore paving a royalty to the owners. It is some years since Sir John resigned the chairmanship and ceased all connection with the company.

SIR JOHN BROWN AS A PUBLIC MAN.

Hitherto we have dealt mainly with the business career of this remarkable man. We now proceed to refer to him as a public man; and it, will be seen that when most deeply immersed in the responsibilities of his own establishment be found time to discharge the more onerous duties of a citizen with an amount of ability, dignity, and generosity that, left nothing to be desired. Before, however, proceeding in that direction, let, us say that on the 21st August, 1867, people of Sheffield were informed that her Majesty had been graciously pleased to confer the honour of knighthood upon Ald. Brown; and the fact was gazetted a few days alter. An honour so well deserved must have been as gratifying to the recipient of it as it was to his fellow townsmen.

Mr. Brown first endeavoured to enter the Town Council in the November elections in 1855, when he was induced to become a candidate, along with Mr. A. Sharman, for the representation of Ecclesall Ward. They were opposed by Mr. W. Smith, jun., and Mr. W. Harvey, and after a severe contest the election ended in the defeat of both Mr. Brown and Mr. Sharman, the former polling 100 fewer votes than Mr. Harvey, and Mr. Sharman being 75 votes below Mr. Brown. In the following May the subject of our sketch was returned unopposed as one of the representatives or St. Peter's Ward, in the place of Ald. Oates; and in November of the same year he was re-elected for the same ward with Mr. Richard Elliott, defeating Mr. W. L. Humfrey. In 1859 he was again returned for St. Peter's Ward, his colleague being Mr. Abraham Booth and in November of that year M. Brown was made alderman by 21 votes. At that time Ald. H. E. Hoole was elected Mayor, and the other aldermen then elected were Messrs. F. Hoole, R. Jackson, H. Vickers, G. L. Saunders, J. Brown, W. Fisher, jun., and W. Bradley. In November, l861, Mr. Brown was unanimously elected Mayor of Sheffield, his election being proposed by Ald. Jackson, seconded by Ald. F. Hoole, supported by Dr Holland and carried with cordial approval. On the 21st of the same month, in his capacity as Mayor, he laid the first stone of the Methodist New Connexion Schools, in Andover street. Some months afterwards, in August, 1862 he entertained the Corporation at a grand banquet at the Cutlers' Hall, the chief guest being Lord Palmerston, then the Premier. It was at this banquet that Mr. Roebuck made his memorable statement with respect to the Civil War in America, prophesying that the North and South could never be united, and that the fight then being maintained was a mere shedding of blood and wasting of treasure for no purpose whatever, adding that if the States could be united to-morrow slavery would be fixed more firmly there than ever. So well did Mr. Brown discharge his civic duties, that in l862 he was unanimously re-elected Mayor, and sincerely thanked for his services. Not long after his re-election he presided over a public meeting to raise subscriptions to relieve the distress amongst the cotton operatives in Lancashire, and £3000 was promised in the room, that sum being afterwards considerably augmented. At the beginning of the next year, on January 20th.1863, a deputation bearing a requisition signed by 50 members of the Corporation, waited upon him, with the request that he would sit for his portrait. He consented, expressing his great appreciation or the compliment; and the painting now adorns the Council Chamber. During his second year's term of office – in April – he was honoured by a visit form the Lords of the Admiralty to the Atlas Works, where they witnessed the rolling of an armour plate, further details of which event are given in the earlier part of this notice. In anticipation of Ald. Brown's retirement from his position as Mayor at the close of his second year or office, he was entertained to a complimentary dinner at the Cutlers' Hall, at which the attendance was very large, and included all the leading citizens. Ald. Jackson (chairman of the Dinner Committee) presided, with the guest of the evening on his right, and the Master Cutler (Mr. T. Jessop) on his left. At the moment the chairman rose to propose “The health of John Brown, Esq., Mayor of Sheffield,” the presentation portrait of his worship was unveiled, and was the signal for loud and prolonged applause. Amongst those who took part in the proceedings of the evening were Mr. Thomas Dunn, Mr. William Fawcett, Mr. Robert Leader, Mr. W. F. Dixon,. Mr. Joseph Haywood, Mr. T. W. Rodgers, Mr. E. Vickers, Ald. Saunders, Mr. C. Atkinson, and the Rev. Dr. Sale.

On the 4th January, 1864, just after his retirement from the Mayoralty, the principal officials at the Atlas Works presented the ex-Mayor with his portrait, which had been painted by Mr. Richard Smith and was a copy of the portrait, painted by the same artist and already placed in the Council Chamber. The gathering took place in one of the large offices at the works, Mr. J. D. Ellis presiding, and Mr. W. Bragge occupying the vice-chair. The address to Ald. Brown was read by Mr. F. Day, the cashier, and the portrait was uncovered amid hearty cheering. In acknowledging the presentation Mr. Brown made some remarks showing the progress that had been made at the Atlas Works. He said his returns the first year he had in business were only £2000, and out of the profits of that amount he had to support himself and wife. They were contented and happy on a small income; perhaps much happier than they were at the time he was speaking, with much larger income; indeed if necessity arose, they could again live happily on a comparative pittance.

RETIREMENT FROM THE COUNCIL.

At the Town Council meeting held on October 30, l865, Aldermen Brown, Hoole and Jackson expressed their intention of not, seeking re-election, but Aldermen Brown and Jackson were prevailed upon to stand again, and they were re-elected. In l871 Sir John Brown was re-e1ected an alderman, and remained in the Council until 1873, when be retired under somewhat unusual and altogether regrettable circumstances. At the Council meeting on January 8th, 1873, a discussion took place with respect to the proposed purchase of the Water Works, and the debate was a long and animated one. An effort was made to close the discussion, and Sir John Brown protested against it, remarking that several other speakers wished to express their opinions on the subject. He declared that it would be a very unfair proceeding to close the discussion, and one which the Council ought not to sanction. He said the Mayor had permitted some gentlemen to express their opinions freely, but when others, himself amongst the number, wished to speak, discussion was closed. Mr. Robertshaw rose and hoped they would proceed to the ordinary business of the Council. They gave way, he said, to Sir John Brown at their last meeting, and the Mayor, on account of Sir John's standing in society, might be again disposed to yield. He hoped, however, in this instance, that the Council would proceed to the ordinary business. The subject then dropped but Sir John took up his hat and left the Council Chamber. On the lst March he addressed a letter to the Corporation tendering his resignation of the office of alderman, and enclosing a cheque for £25, that being the amount of the fine then payable. After some discussion the resignation was accepted, and so closed Sir John Brown's municipal career.

During the period of his Mayoralty there was no more popular man in Sheffield than the Mayor, and not content with the honours already showered upon him, many of his admirers desired to see him in a still loftier position – as one of the representatives in Parliament of his native town. On the 25th of August 1863, the Master Cutler (Mr. H. Harrison) and Ald. Vickers waited upon his Worship and presented to him a requisition bearing the Dames of 2500 electors, asking him to allow himself to be put in nomination to represent Sheffield in parliament on the next vacancy. The Mayor, acting on the advice of his medical attendant, said be was obliged to decline the honour they sought to confer upon him, on the ground of ill health.

OTHER LOCAL APPOINTMENTS.

For many years Mr. Brown took a prominent part in the affairs of the Cutlers' Company, and on August 11, 1865, he was unanimously requested to accept the office of Master Cutler. He was averse to filling the office at that time on account of the delicate state of his health, but yielding to the pressure put upon him he accepted the honour, and gave the customary feast on September 7th. The state of his health, however, prevented him from presiding, and the chair was taken by the then Mayor, Mr. Jessop. The principal guests were Earl Fitzwilliam, Lord Wharncliffe, Lord E. Howard, M.P., the Hon. J. F. S. Wortley, the Hon. J. F. S Wortley, Lord Foley, Mr. J. A. Roebuck, M.P., and Mr. George Hadfield, M.P. On August 17th, in the fol1owing year, Ald. Brown was again unanimously elected to the office, he had filled during the preceding year.

Mr. Brown was one of the first members of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, he having joined that body in 1857. In February of the following year he and Mr. J. J. Smith were re-elected vice-presidents of the Chamber. He went no farther in office, and although he remained a member for many years, he took no very active part in the business transacted by the Chamber.

In July, l863, Ald. Brown was placed on the commission or the peace for the borough, the other gentlemen appointed at the same time being Messrs. H. Harrison, R. Jackson. W. Fisher, H. E. Hoole, W. Fawcett, H. Wilson, and Mr. Jessop, of whom all have passed away. Two years later Sir John was appointed a deputy-lieutenant of the West Riding, a similar honour being conf erred at the same time upon the late Mr. W. F. Dixon, of Page Hall. In April, 1868, Sir John, in company with Mr. T. G. Fullerton, of Thrybergh Park, was added to the list of West Riding magistrates. So long as his health permitted there was no more attentive, painstaking, impartial member of either bench than the deceased.

In April, 1864, there was an election of a Town Trustee to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Mr. Thomas Asline Ward. The only candidate for the honour was Ald. Brown, who was escorted to the Town Hall by a large number of friends. The retiring member of the Trust proposed his election, and said he did not. know any gentleman in the town whom it was more desirable to elect upon the Trust than Ald. Brown. Mr. Leader, in seconding the proposition, remarked that Mr. Brown's career in Sheffield was one of the most notable things of modem times. On the death of Mr. Samuel Roberts, Sir John was elected Town Collector, a position he held for many years.

Mr. Brown did good and long-continued work as a Poor-law Guardian. He was first elected in April, 1857, as a member of the Ecclesall Board of Guardians, in company with Messrs. T. R. Barker, I. Schofield, and George Buxton. In 1858 be was again elected standing second on the list, and he was returned a third time in 1859. On the death of Mr. T. R. Barker, in 1873, Sir John Brown was elected chairman of the board, defeating Mr. F. W. Bagshawe, who was also put in nomination. Sir John, although frequently unable to attend to the duties of the office owing to failing health, continued to occupy the post at the express desire of his colleagues on the board. In 1886, when Sir John attained his 70th birthday, the Guardians, overseers, and officers decided to present him with his portrait, to be hung in the board room of the Workhouse. The portrait was painted, and on the evening of December 6th Sir John was entertained to banquet, and the presentation was made. A copy of it has since been made and hung in the board room of Earle's Shipbuilding Company at Hull.

On the death of Mr. William Smith, in l864, Ald. Brown succeeded him as a director or the Sheffield Water Works Company, but retired in 1869 on the ground or ill health.

On the evening of November 26th, 1864, Ald. Brown was entertained to a. complimentary dinner at the Victoria Station Hotel by the members of the Sheffield Choral Union, of which he was the hon. president. The gathering was a graceful expression of the obligation the society was under to him for his active interest in its success. Mr. T. Jessop (who was then Mayor) occupied the chair, and amongst the company were many prominent friends of the union. Ald. Brown, in proposing success to the Sheffield Choral Union, said that for a number of years he had been in the habit of attending the great musical festivals in Birmingham, and he had often thought that what Birmingham could do Sheffield might do. He expressed the hope that the time would arrive when Sheffield would have at least a triennial festival for the benefit of her charitable institutions, and it is somewhat of a coincidence that after a delay of over 30 years, this hope should have been fulfilled but a few weeks before the death of the gentleman who so earnestly advocated a festival on the lines of the one which has recently been conducted with such splendid success.

In January, 1866, Ald. Brown was elected a Church Burgess, and there were other important positions which Sir John filled with credit to himself and advantage to others. Amongst them might be mentioned that of one or the directors of the Great Northern Railway Company, to which he was elected in July, 1874, and that of a director of the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway, both of which position be held for some time.

AS A CHURCHMAN.

Sir John was a staunch Churchman, and throughout his long and consistent life ever evinced his deep attachment to the Church, and his desire to promote its interests. His generosity in the cause of religion was undoubted, and he was always ready to help on the work of the Church of which he was such a valued member. The establishment of the large iron works in the neighbourhood of Brightside, and the gathering into the district of large masses of the working population, created a necessity for provision being made for their moral and spiritual welfare. This fact was early recognised by Sir John, and even before the Church Extension Society was established in Sheffield he began to make arrangements for meeting the religious wants of the people in the immediate vicinity of his own works. At a meeting of the society held on January 23rd. 1866, and over which Lord Wharncliffe presided, in the absence of the Archbishop of York, it was stated that they had been relieved from a serious difficulty by Sir John Brown's proposal to erect a church at a cost of about £5000. When the plans were sent in by Messrs. Flockton and Abbott it was found that the church could not be erected for the sum named. The committee of the society had agreed to supplement his gift by a contribution of £2000, but when that fact became known to Sir John he at once said that on no account would he allow anyone hut himself to bear the expense of erecting the church, and whatever its ultimate cost might be he would defray the whole of it. How Sir John's generous intention was carried out, and what a noble Church was erected, is well known. The corner stone of the edifice was laid on Saturday, May 19th, 1866, by the Archbishop of York, in the presence of a large concourse or people. On September 19th Sir John and Lady Brown (who had the keenest sympathy with his work) witnessed the laying of the top stone of the edifice. By the following year the Church was completed at a cost of something like £12,000, and ready to be handed over, free of cost, to the Church Extension Society; but a difficulty arose with respect to the consecration. The church was erected within the parish of Brightside, and the vicar, the Rev. T. Huhne, felt himself aggrieved that he had not been appointed one of the four patrons of the church. It was pointed out to him that to do so would be contrary to the rules of the Church Extension Society, but he remained obdurate and for some time the church was practically useless. On June 5th, 1868, however, a meeting was convened by the members of the society, and it was decided to consecrate the church under another Act of Parliament, although that course would necessitate the finding of £1100. The feeling amongst the laymen in the room was so strong that £700 was at once subscribed and the rest or the amount was quickly obtained, after whim the church was consecrated. After the death of Lady Brown, Sir John, in her memory, laid the chancel of the church with tiles, and since then he has in other ways added to the beauty and utility of the church.

AS AN EDUCATIONIST.

Sir John was thoroughly convinced or the importance of education, and one of his earliest efforts in that direction was the establishment of a Sunday school, carried out in one of the large rooms connected with his works. When the Education Act was passed in 1870, and the ratepayers of Sheffield were called upon to elect a School Board to look after the elementary education of the young of the town, Sir John was nominated as one of the candidates. It might be interesting to state that on the occasion or the first election in 1870 no less than 95 persons were nominated for the 11 seats, but, that number was subsequently reduced by withdrawals to 54, all of whom, except two, actually went to the poll. Sir John came out tenth on the list, with 9344 votes. He was appointed the first chairman of the board, and his colleagues were Mark Firth, Henry Wi1son, Charles Wardlow, Thomas Moore, W. Fisher, M. J. Ellison, W. Cobby, Skelton Cole, C. Doncaster, T. Crossland, Alfred Allott, R. T. Eadon, R. W. Holden, and J. Fairburn. It is impossible to over-estimate the services rendered by the board to the cause of education. They took a comprehensive view of the Act and of the educational requirements of the town, laying very elaborate but necessary plans for the instruction of the children. The board was one of the first in the country to get vigorously to work. At the end of their term of office the members offered themselves for re-election, but owing to some informality in the nomination of Mr. Mark Firth the entire board went back into power, reappointed Sir John Brown their chairman, and continued operations for another three years, conducting the business of the board in the same cordial and amicable spirit that had characterised their first term of office. In November, 1876, the board was again dissolved, and an e1ection took place. No less than 20 candidates went to the po11, and Sir John was returned fourth on the list with 16,069 votes. A few' days afterwards Sir John was reelected chairman. During his third term or office Sir John's health was very precarious, and at the end of the term he declined to offer himself for re-election. He was fully alive to the advantages of higher as well as elementary education, and did all in his power to promote it, and while connected with the board he did much good and noble work, for which alone his name should be held in honour by the Sheffield people. Although Sir John, as chairman of the board, had the rates of the town to fal1 back upon, he was none the less a believer in voluntary effort, and in providing schools more particularly to give denominational instruction. In May 1871, he laid the foundation stones of the new schools in connection with his church in Grimethorpe road, in the presence of the Archbishop of York and in the presence of many friends of the movement.

Although not a teetotaler Sir John was an extremely temperate man, and an advocate of temperance in others. When in November, 1871, the Temperance Association were making a vigorous effort to clear off a debt of £500 which had for years remained upon their hall, Sir John took part in the opening of a bazaar and exhibition which they had got up. He spoke most approvingly of their work, commended it, to the sympathy and support of the well-to-do in the town, and said the time had come when their efforts must be seconded by the Legislature, and further restriction put upon the sale of intoxicating drinks. Sir John welcomed every succeeding step taken by the Legislature in the direction of promoting temperance.

In November, 1881, Sir John was called to pass through the greatest sorrow of his life. Mary Schofield, the little girl who took so kindly an interest in him when a boy at school, who subsequently became Lady Brown, and with whom he had lived in happy union for the long period of 42 years, passed away in the 68th year of her age. For some time her ladyship had suffered from a painful affliction, and her condition had caused Sir John much uneasiness. To him her loss was irreparable; to many more it was little short or a calamity, for by her quiet, homely, and unostentatious life, and her numerous acts of kindness, Lady Brown hard endeared herself to a very large circle including all classes or society.

The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent, 28 December 1896

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