Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Browne, William (1628-1678)
BROWNE, WILLIAM (1628–1678), botanist, was born at Oxford, and trained at that university, where he graduated B.A. on 2 Nov. 1647, being described as of Magdalen College. On 2 July 1652 he was one of the examiners of Anthony à Wood for B.A. Conjointly with Dr. P. Stephen, principal of Magdalen Hall, he edited a new edition of Hobart's 'Catalogue of the Oxford Garden.' This is notable as being the first botanical book issued in this country which cites the pages of quoted. He took the degree of B.D. on 8 July 1665, and preached one of the university sermons at St. Maty's on 32 Aug. 1671. He died suddenly on 25 March 1678, and was buried in the outer chapel of Magdalen College, of which he waa senior fellow.
[Wood's Fasti (Bliss). ii. 104. 282; Wood's Atheæ Oxon. (Bliss) Life, xx, lxx; Pulteney's Biog. Sketches of Botany (1790), i. 166-9.]