Brown McFarlane was founded in 1889 by Captain A R Brown, a former P & O Chief Officer. Captain Brown had worked in the Far East since 1868, charting and surveying the coastline of Japan. At the turn of the century Captain Brown joined forces with a naval architect, George McFarlane to establish A R Brown McFarlane & Co Ltd. The company was involved in the building of ships for Japan and export of machinery, electrical and other equipment, evolving into a steel stockholder and trader to a wider market. A London office opened in 1915, to be followed by Antwerp, New York and Tokyo, supported by a worldwide agent network.