George Brown (bishop)

infobox bishopbiog
name = George Brown


religion=Roman Catholic Church
See = Diocese of Dunkeld
Title = Bishop of Dunkeld
Period = 1483–1515
consecration = June 13, 1484
Predecessor = Thomas Lauder (consecrated)
James Livingston (unconsecrated)
Successor = Andrew Stewart (unconsecrated)
Gavin Douglas (consecrated)
post = Rector of Tyningham;
Chancellor of Aberdeen| ordination =
bishops = None
date of birth = c. 1438
place of birth = Probably Scotland
date of death =
place of death = Dunkeld, 1515

George Brown (c. 1438 - January 1515) was a late 15th century and early 16th century Scottish churchman. He first appears on record in 1478 as the rector of the church of Tyningham, and is called a clerk of the diocese of Brechin. [Dowden, "Bishops of Scotland", p. 79, & n. 3.] In 1482, he was selected to be Chancellor of the diocese of Aberdeen. [Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 13.]

On October 22, 1483, he was selected to be Bishop of Dunkeld, despite the election of Alexander Inglis on September 17 of the same year. [Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 98; Dowden, "Bishops of Scotland", p. 78.] On June 13, 1484, Brown had been consecrated at the Papal see. [Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 98.] Brown, as "orator regis" ("the king's priest"), had been sent to Rome by King James III of Scotland to press the claims of George Carmichael to the bishopric of Glasgow. [Dowden, "Bishops of Scotland", pp. 79-80.] According to Alexander Myln, in his 16th century "Vitae Dunkeldensis ecclesiae episcoporum" ("Lives of the Bishops of Dunkeld"), Brown used the opportunity to become friendly with many of the cardinals, including Roderick Borgia, papal vice-chancellor and Bishop of Porto, the future Pope Alexander VI. Myln alleges that it was Borgia's influence that secured Brown's provision and consecration, even though, he alleges, it was against the will of the Scottish king. [Myln, "Vitae Dunkeldensis", p. 28; Dowden, "Bishops of Scotland", p. 80.]

Brown's position was not thus initially secure. In May 1485 the Parliament of Scotland supplicated the Pope to reverse his decision in favour of Alexander Inglis. Brown, however, had the support of Robert Lauder, Lord of the Bass, and through a mixture of pressure and bribery, secured James III's recognition of Brown. [Dowden, "Bishops of Scotland", pp. 80-1.] Brown returned to Scotland, landing at Inchcolm, part of the diocese of Dunkeld.Dowden, "Bishops of Scotland", p. 81.]

Brown's episcopate was comparatively long, though most of the details were not recorded. Alexander Myln attributes reconstruction of the diocese to Brown's episcopate, namely in the creation of four rural deans. This is supported by other records, whereby four new deaneries come into the record during Brown's tenure, although Deans of Angus (Rattray) and Atholl can be found in the 13th century. [Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", pp. 122-4.]

Bishop Brown's last years witnessed the defeat and death of King James IV of Scotland at the Battle of Flodden, while the bishop himself suffered from Gallstone. He died on either January 14 or January 15, 1515, aged 76. [Dowden, "Bishops of Scotland", p. 81, gives the 14th, based on Myln, while offering a letter by Gavin Douglas suggesting the 15th; Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 99, gives January 15, while citing Dowden and Myln as his sources.]

Notes

References

*Dowden, John, "The Bishops of Scotland", ed. J. Maitland Thomson, (Glasgow, 1912)
*Myln, Alexander, "Vitae Dunkeldensis ecclesiae episcoporum", ed. T. Thomson, rev. edn, 1, rev. C. Innes, (Bannatyne Club, 1831)
*Watt, D.E.R., "Fasti Ecclesiae Scotinanae Medii Aevi ad annum 1638", 2nd Draft, (St Andrews, 1969)