James Brown

Who was James Brown?

James Brown, OBE PC DL was a Scottish Labour politician.

Educated at Annbank Public School, he was Secretary of the Ayrshire Miners and of the Scottish Miners' National Union. He unsuccessfully contested North Ayrshire in January 1910 and was the Member of Parliament for South Ayrshire from 1918–1931 and from 1935 until his death.

He was awarded the OBE in 1917, appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1930. He was Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1924, 1930 and 1931.

He was granted the Freedom of the Royal Burgh of Ayr in 1930, and of Girvan in 1931 and was awarded an Honorary LLD by the University of Glasgow in 1931. He was a Deputy Lieutenant of Ayrshire.

His life story "From Pit To Palace" by Alexander Gammie was published in 1931.