Alexander Brown and his Descendants, 1764-1916, page 12, William, eldest of the four brothers, established himself in Liverpool in 1810. Here he carried on the merchant-banking business in the same conservative spirit as his father, whom he most closely resembled. Later he became a founder of the London branch of the firm, known as Brown, Shipley & Company, and entered Parliament. In 1862, in recognition of his services to the city of Liverpool, to which he gave its public library, Queen Victoria bestowed upon him the title of Baronet. Two years later Sir William Brown, having outlived his nine children, died, leaving no grandson old enough to take his place in the English branch of the firm.