(1817–1897)
Anthony
Brownless had an unpromising start in the medical profession, being
obliged to interrupt his studies in England several times because of
accidents or illness. It is probable that his decision to emigrate to
Australia from England was taken with a view to improving his health,
which in fact, greatly improved when he did.
Arriving in Melbourne in 1852, Brownless was appointed physician to
the Melbourne Benevolent Asylum the following year and physician (later
consulting physician) to the Melbourne Hospital in 1853. He also built
up an extensive private practice.
His appointment to the Council in June 1855 signalled a change in direction
for the University: Brownless presented his first proposal for the establishment
of a medical school just 18 months later. Funding and administrative
delays meant that it was only in March 1862 that the first lectures
began. Brownless insisted that the course should be a five-year one,
making Melbourne the only University except Dublin to offer such a course.
Brownless was appointed vice-chancellor in 1858, controlling all committees,
and especially the Medical School for the next 29 years. He succeeded
in being appointed chancellor on his fourth attempt in 1887 and held
the position until his death. The historian of the Medical School, K
F Russell, comments that ‘His inflexibility of mind and dogged perseverance
were all too obvious to his contemporaries, although obscured at first
sight by an air of venerable benevolence.’
As well as his university posts, Brownless held appointments on the
commission on the Yarra Bend Lunatic Asylum, the commission on industrial
and reformatory schools and the commission for the Melbourne Centennial
International Exhibition. Brownless was a devout convert to the Catholic
Church and served for more than 30 years on the Catholic Education Committee.
He was awarded the knighthood of the Order of St Gregory the Great in
1870 and of the Order of Pius in 1883. Brownless was also a notable
cricketer and maintained his own pack of foxhounds for many years.
