The Honorable Peter Nicholas Broun (Browne) was born in Guernsey on August 17, 1797, and died in Fremantle on Thursday morning, November 5, 1846, after a lingering and painful illness. He was 49-years-old and was the second son of the late William and Annie Broun, of Newmains, Dumfries Shire in Scotland.

Peter Broun had served as the Colonial Secretary for the 18 years since the Swan River Colony had been founded. His additional duties as the Secretary and Clerk of the Legislative Council, the Registrar and the Colonial Treasurer made him second in importance next to the Governor.

He arrived with the Governor and the rest of the official foundation party aboard the Parmelia on June 1, 1829. His brought his wife and two children with him. He had married Caroline Simpson in Scotland in 1824-5 and by all accounts had eleven children - McBryde Anderson, Ann M., Ellen Stirling, James William, Mary Susan L., John Carey, Caroline Henrietta, Charles Frederick, Matilda Caroline Maud, Jessie Souper and an infant son who died in 1833.

Several months before he died, he had been taken to his brother's home in a very precarious condition after his case had been declared hopeless by his doctors.

His remains were brought up the Swan River to Perth. As the boats left Fremantle, the minute guns were fired and the ships in the harbour lowered their flags to half-mast. The Emma Sherrat, which had left her berth, lay to off the bar, and displayed her colours at half-mast too.

In Perth, his remains were met at the Jetty by as many of the inhabitants of Perth as could possibly attend. The procession proceeded slowly to the church, where the Rev. J.B. Wittenoom officiated. The corpse was then followed to the grave by a large number of his friends as well as the general public.

Peter Broun had been granted 9626 acres of land in the colony and he selected land at 'Coulston' and later bought a property which he called 'Bassendean'. His wife had taken their children to England on the Napoleon on January 14, 1844 and had only returned a few months before his death. They arrived home in June 1846 aboard the John Bagshaw.

Unfortunately, Peter Broun was only paid an annual salary of £500, and there was no provision for a pension or a donation for his family. The family were in dire straights and had to sell 'Bassendean' to cover their commitments.

[The Perth Gazette and the Western Australian Journal, Sat. November 7, 1846, p2]

It is with sincere regret that H.E. the Governor has directed to be announced to the Public, the decease of the Hon. Peter Broun, Colonial Secretary, on Thursday morning, the 5th instant, after a lingering and painful illness of many months duration.

This officer has associated with this settlement from its earliest formation, and the unwearied zeal and assiduity with which for a period of 18 years, he has discharged the various and arduous duties of his office, without intermission, since his arrival in the Colony, are well known to this community, and have been duly appreciated by the Government.

His Excellency pays this tribute of respect to his memory, with a feeling of sorrow dictated by a just sense of the long services which Mr. Broun has rendered to Western Australia.

[The Perth Gazette and the Western Australian Journal, Sat. November 7, 1846, p2]

We notice with extreme regret, the announcement of the demise of P. Brown, Esq., Colonial Secretary. He died at Fremantle, on the 5th insant, at the residence of his brother, whither he had been removed some time back in a very precarious state, indeed after all the medical gentlemen had pronounced it a hopeless case. The remains were brought up to Perth by water, and were met on the Jetty by all the inhabitants of the town, who could possibly contrive to be present, and the procession proceeded slowly to the church, where the Rev. J.B. Wittenoom officiated. The corpse was subsequently followed to the grave by a most respectable and numerous body of his friends, as well as the public, who all appeared to sympathise deeply in his loss, and were anxious to evince this last tribute of respect to his memory. As the boats were leaving Fremantle the minute guns were fired and the shipping in the harbour displayed their flags half-mast high; the Emma Sherrat, which had previously got under weigh, lay to off the bar, and also displayed her colours in the prescribed form.

Thus the life of a valuable officer of the Crown has terminated, after serving a period of 18 years in the capacity of Colonial Secretary, with a salary of £500 per annum, and without the slightest prospect of a donation or a pension being extended to the family.

How strongly this circumstance impresses upon our minds, the urgency of colonial 'union' to meet these instances. It appears to us that the subject involves so wide a range of colonies, that it should not be made a partial question, but one extending over the whole civil service. If some considerate and deliberative man would make this matter more attractive and deserving of enquiry, they would render good service to the state, and give the assurance that due compensation would be given for lengthened services in her Majesty's offices, not immediately derivable from H.M. chest, but from a collected fund all derived from the different colonial branches of service.

The handsome eulogium passed upon our departed friend, by the Government, in a notice we this day inserted, relieves us from expatriating further on his estimable qualities both public and private.