First Watson Gordon chair of fine art at Edinburgh University (first chair of fine arts in the British Isles) 1880-1930; early monuments preservationist. Brown's father was a minister, James Baldwin Brown (1820-1884) and his mother, Elizabeth Leifchild (Brown). His uncle was the sculptor Henry Leifchild (1823-1884). After attending Uppingham School, he earned a scholarship to Oriel College, Oxford, in 1869. He graduated with a degrees in classics in 1871 and literae humaniores (humanities) in 1873.

Director of the Royal Scottish Museum in Edinburgh, 1961 -71. Although born in New Zealand, his parents soon returned to Scotland where he was educated at Edinburgh Academy and Edinburgh University. He joined the staff of the Royal Scottish Museum in 1932. He married Mary Pringle in 1933. During the World War II, he was assigned to the Ministry of Information and was deputy regional information officer for Scotland 1942-44. He was promoter to keeper (curator) of the department of art and ethnography in 1955.

art historian and chemist of painting technique

Historian of Spanish art and embelmata book collector; first art historian to use photo-reproduction in an art history book. Stirling was the son of Archibald Stirling of Keir and Cawder (1769-1847) and Elizabeth Maxwell (Stirling) (1793-1822), both among Scotland's oldest families. He was educated privately at Pilton Rectory, Northamptonshire, and Cossington Rectory, Leicestershire, before attending Trinity College, Cambridge. He graduated in 1839, the same year making a grand tour with George Holland of Germany, Switzerland, France, and Italy.