Author Archives: John Thomson

In the words of Robert Burns:
“Here’s a bottle and an honest friend!
What wad ye wish for mair, man?
Wha kens, before his life may end,
What his share may be o’ care, man?

Then catch the moments as they fly,
And use them as ye ought, man:
Believe me, happiness is shy,
And comes not aye when sought, man.”

The recently published historical novel tracks the real life of David Brown, who was one of the early pioneers to Penang and a true Scottish merchant-adventurer of the old school. The novel is based on family records and contemporary documents of a true and colourful life.

David Brown, a young Scottish lawyer of modest background, arrived in Penang in 1800 on an East Indiaman. Over the next twenty-five years he laid the foundations of a family business and a dynasty that would prosper and thrive until the Japanese occupation of 1941. Though a reserved and complex man of strong religious beliefs, he proved to be the quintessential Scottish merchant-adventurer – skillfully building up land, wealth and business interests. He founded the mighty Glugor spice estate and built there a fine Palladian mansion – the finest house of its type in the East.  He was also a man who lived life to the full: he had four wives (the last two concurrently…) and nine children.

David Brown was ‘The Master of Penang.’

If any member of the St Andrew’s Society wishes to obtain a complimentary eBook version of the novel, please contact Andrew Barber at the following email address themasterofpenang@gmail.com and he will send you a free copy!