Head of Aston Martin who also owned a farm, race horses, yachts and numerous other interests. Knighted in 1968, he died in Monaco, where he had lived for many years. Brown started work in his family gear and machine tool manufacturing business, but started as a normal apprentice rather than an executive. However, he soon rose up the ranks, working as a foreman and manager before becoming company managing director aged twenty-seven. His interest in motorsport came from his mother, who was a fan, and Brown raced motorcycles for a while. He designed and built his own engines and with his links through his business, got bits together to drive in both hillclimb and beach events. Brown then formed a bronze and steel foundry which made aircraft components and serviced the energy and the oil industry. He then also built a tractor manufacturing and design business, initially with Harry Ferguson, and then later run solely by himself. Brown took over Aston Martin in 1947 and Lagonda in 1948, which he ran until 1970. Brown also enjoyed polo and flying his plane. His daughter Angela, married fellow 1950's motor-racing personality, George Abecassis. Brown was a big dog lover who tried to adapt his cars to suit dogs, plus wanted almost everything he worked on to have the roman purple colour, his favourite.

Biography last updated 2 Jul 2017