So who the **** was Guillermo (William or Liam) Brown?

Guillermo (William or Liam) Brown (1777 - 1857) was an Irishman acknowledged as the “father of the Argentine Navy.” That’s right, an Irishman founded the Argentine Navy. The Argentine Navy Destroyer, Almirante Brown, is named for him.

I knew about Brown through a number of different sources, before my trip to Argentina. I learned that Brown was born in Foxford, County Mayo, Ireland. He first emigrated, as a child, to Philadelphia. He later led an adventurous sea faring life, ultimately ending up in Argentina. He distinguished himself in some of Argentina’s naval engagements, ultimately becoming the first admiral of Argentina’s maritime forces.

A recent tour took my wife, Jo, and I to Argentina.  The tour guide took us to the grave of Eva “Evita” Peron (”Don’t Cry for me Argentina”) at Cementerio de la Recoleta in Buenos Aires. As I was leaving the cemetery, I noticed the tall green marble pillar that marked Brown’s grave.  You can learn more about Brown by visiting the Wikipedia entry dedicated to him.   

So there you have it. It interested me. Besides, I did more than ride horses and river rafting during my South American odyssey.

Take good care of yourselves.

Ed Murphy

Views: 586

Tags: Argentina, Brown, Foxford, Latin America, Mayo, Military History, Navy, Philadelphia, Seafaring


Admin
Comment by Joe Gannon on July 28, 2014 at 5:18pm

John, there is a big monument to Admiral Brown in the middle of his hometown in Foxford, Co. Mayo. Here's some photos of it: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152047865782586.1073741...

Comment by John Edward Murphy on July 28, 2014 at 6:29pm

Thanks Joe.  I knew of the Foxford monumnets, but I never saw them.  I believe they are recent vintage.

My father was from Belmullet.

Ed Murphy


Admin
Comment by Joe Gannon on July 28, 2014 at 8:28pm

I have a larger version of these pics on my computer, so I'm able to read all the stuff on the front of the monument. It was it was erected in 1937. There's another monument in town that is definitely of more recent vintage. It's over by the woolen mills.

Comment by Gerry Regan on July 30, 2014 at 11:04am

Do connect with esteemed fellow member Guillermo MacLoughlin, who published The Southern Cross, a principal source of news about the Irish in South America -- and worldwide.

Comment by Cecilia Mendoza on July 30, 2014 at 6:28pm

Un orgullo para todos los argentinos y en especial para los descendientes de irlandeses! Este año en nuestro país se recuerda el Bicentenario de la batalla de Montevideo en la que Guillermo Brown fue el héroe.

Comment by kimberly on July 30, 2014 at 6:45pm

My great-grandfathers name was William Brown and when inquiring about him sometimes I get information on this man. I always have to add his middle name but it makes me wonder if this William Brown is a distant relative.

Comment by John Edward Murphy on August 1, 2014 at 11:25am

Hola, Guillermo MacLoughlin

I’ve posted several blogs since joining,  By all means feel free to view all of them.  But two of them --- one on Admiral Guillermo Brown and the other on Bernardo O’Higgins --- may be of interest to you. Go to a href="http://thenewwildgeese.com/profile/JohnEdwardMurphy>" target="_blank">http://thenewwildgeese.com/profile/JohnEdwardMurphy>; to get started.    

As an aside, like you, I’m a CPA, I live and work in Falls Church, Virginia --- just outside Washington DC.  You can learn more about me and my Financial Management Institute (FMI) by visiting the FMI website at http://www.fmi.cc.  The site needs a lot of improvement, but it will do right now.

Comment by Cecilia Mendoza on August 1, 2014 at 12:33pm

Dear John and all the friends of The Wilde Geese: Very interesting your blog! I copied letter from Admiral Brown, published by the National Historical Archive of Argentina. I hope you are interested! 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.825914794100405.107374199...

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