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Charles Philip Brown was born in Calcutta on November 10, 1798 to Rev. David Brown, a missionary, who learnt Sanskrit and other native languages to help him in his work. After his father's death in 1812, Brown moved to England and was selected for a job with the East India Company. He arrived in Madras in 1817, proceeded to learn Telugu, and by 1824 had formed a life-long interest in the literature of the language. His frustrating experiences in learning Telugu caused him to begin compiling a dictionary and grammar text which are still used today.

He also amassed collection of more than 5000 manuscripts in Telegu, Sanskrit and other languages, either as originals or transcriptions at a cost of some 30,000 rupees. By 1845, he had placed his collection with the Madras Literary Society and had compiled the catalogues which comprise this collection in 1847.

Ill heath caused him to leave India in 1855, but he retained his interest in Telugu and was appointed professor of Telugu in London University in 1865, continuing to add new words to his dictionary almost till the end of his life. He died on the 12th of December 1884.