Tom Browne (1870 – 1910) was an extremely popular English strip cartoonist, painter and illustrator of the late Victorian and Edwardian periods. Browne started earning a wage as a milliner's errand boy in 1882. From there he was apprenticed to a lithographic printer and eked out a living with freelance cartoons for London comic papers. He received 30 shillings for his first strip, published by the magazine “Scraps,” and called "He Knew How To Do It".
Comic Cuts, a British comic book was founded by Alfred Harmsworth in 1890. Cheaply printed, it proved to be the ideal medium for Browne's bold drawing style. Browne's comic strips soon became so popular that he moved to London and into a studio in Wollaton House at Westcombe Park, London. Here he turned out six full-page strips a week, but also managed to produce illustrations for several British magazines. His cartoons appeared in the magazines Punch, The Tatler and other highly rated periodicals of the day. The logo of Johnnie Walker whiskey, the strutting, monocled character, was created by Browne in 1908.
Browne was a founding member of the London Sketch Club, was publicly acclaimed and was made a “Royal Illustrator.” His cycling trips took him all over the world, while illustrations of these exploits appeared in the newspapers. Returning to Nottingham, he started a colour printing firm and joined the Territorial Army.
He also created the comic strip Weary Willie and Tired Tim, inspired by Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, which appeared on the front page of Illustrated Chips from 1896 to 1953. Browne played a major part in the evolution of the British comic style, influencing Bruce Bairnsfather, Didley Watkins and Leo Baxendale. His strip 'Airy Alf and Bouncing Billy' first appeared in The Big Budget around 1900, and was later continued by Ralph Hodgson aka "Yorick". His comic, Dan Leno, portrayed the Victorian English music hall comedian and appeared in Dan Leno's Comic Journal in 1898. Echoes of his impudent urchins can still be seen in The Beano and The Dandy comics today.
More of his characters were 'Little Willy and Tiny Tim', 'Mr. Stankey Deadstone and Company', 'The Rajah' and 'Don Quixote de Tintogs'. Browne died after surgery for cancer at the age of 39. He was buried with military honours at Shooter’s Hill.
For more information on Browne see part 1.
For earlier works see parts 1 - 4 also.
This is part 5 of 9 parts on the works of Tom Browne:
![]() |
| "Oh Fido! This is so sudden." |
![]() |
"Our Territorial Army."
The Cyclist's Section lose Control of their machines. |
![]() |
"Pa learns to ride a horse."
Father mounts. |
![]() |
"Pa learns to ride a horse."
Father takes the jump at the Riding School. |
![]() |
"Pa learns to ride a horse."
The noble steed bolts |
![]() |
"Pa's Adventures."
A windy day. Pa stops a runaway hat. |
![]() |
"Pa's Adventures."
Pa goes in for Fox-Hunting." |
![]() |
"Pa's Adventures."
Pa teaches Johnny The Noble Art. |
![]() |
| "Pay up and look pleasant." |
![]() |
"Pierrot and Pierette."
A song of love. |
![]() |
"Pierrot and Pierette."
Caught! |
![]() |
"Pierrot and Pierette."
Jealousy. |
![]() |
"Pierrot and Pierette."
The snub direct. |
![]() |
"Pierrot and Pierette."
Two's company, three's none. |
![]() |
"Pierrot and Pierette."
Wool-gathering |
![]() |
"Poor Pa's Troubles"
The children want new clothes. |
![]() |
"Poor Pa's Troubles"
Pa gets into hot water. |
![]() |
"Poor Pa's Troubles"
Some idiot has trampled on Pa's tulip bed. |
![]() |
"Poor Pa's Troubles."
Washing Day. Pa has his lunch on the stairs. |
![]() |
"Rest Sir?"
"No, thanks. I can reach em." |
![]() |
"Sea-side flirtations."
An interesting invalid. |
![]() |
"Sea-side Pleasures."
"Oh, Harold. Save me!!!" |
![]() |
"Seaside Comforts."
Pa is recognised by a friend. |
![]() |
"Seaside Comforts."
Looking for lodgings. |
![]() |
"Seaside Comforts."
Hotel full. Pa sleeps in the Billiard Room. |
![]() |
"Seaside Comforts."
Off to the sea-side |
![]() |
"Seaside Comforts."
Pa and Ma have a donkey ride |
![]() |
"Seaside Comforts."
The house being full, Pa, Ma & the baby have to sleep in the bath-room. |
![]() |
"Seaside."
"Hi fear, no foe hin shinin' harmour" |
![]() |
"Seaside."
Ma gets caught by the incoming tide. |
![]() |
"Spooning by moon-light."
Spooning on deck |
![]() |
"Spooning by moonlight"
Under the palms. |
![]() |
| Spooning the Bar-Maid |
![]() |
"Spooning"
A way they have in the Army. |
![]() |
"Spooning"
In the Tea Shop. |
![]() |
"Spring Cleaning"
Mary breaks Pa's favourite bust. |
![]() |
"Spring Cleaning"
Pa arrives home from business - |
![]() |
"Spring cleaning"
Pa falls over the stair-carpet. |
![]() |
"Spring cleaning"
Taking down the pictures |
![]() |
"Spring cleaning"
The Landlady washes Pa's finest Old Master. |
![]() |
"Spring Cleaning"
The whitewashers are in. |
![]() |
"The adventures of a very young policeman"
He conducts an old lady across the road. |
![]() |
"The adventures of a very young policeman"
He conducts a young lady across the road. |
![]() |
| "The adventures of a very young policeman" He finds a lost child. |
![]() |
"The adventures of a very young policeman"
He has a friendly glass and cigar with Mr Jones at 1. a.m. |
![]() |
"The adventures of a very young policeman"
The cook's favourite. |
![]() |
"The adventures of a very young policeman."
He arrests a gang of hooligans. |
![]() |
"The adventures of three men in a boat"
Changing seats. |
![]() |
"The adventures of three men in a boat"
Cheerful! |
![]() |
"The adventures of three men in a boat"
Trying to save him. |
![]() |
"The adventures of three men in a boat."
Over the weir. |
![]() |
"The adventures of three men in a boat."
Stocking the larder. |
![]() |
"The adventures of three men in a boat."
The wash of the demon motor-boat. |
