#OnThisDay 1823 William M. Browne was born in Mayo, the fifth son of D. Geoffrey Browne, MP. Details of William’s early life are sparse and it is unclear what higher education qualifications he had or that he served with the British Army in the Crimean War. The records become fruitful again when he is residing in New York City in 1855.
In 1861 Browne moved to Athens, Georgia and became close with the newly elected Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his Secretary of State Robert Tooms. Browne was appointed Assistant Secretary of State and was acting Secretary of State for the Confederacy
in March 1862 he left the Secretary of State position and became military aide-de-camp to Confederate President Davis & later temporary Brigadier General in the Confederate Army. He was appointed Commandant of Conscription in Georgia and didn’t see much fighting. Browne survived the war but apparently died in relative poverty despite some high class positions.
The Irish at War 