George Brown was born on February 7, 1839 in Herring Cove, Nova Scotia. He was regarded as one of the greatest long distance scullers in the world and certainly the best sculler ever to come from Nova Scotia. As one of the best international rowers, Brown consistently outdistanced the top rowers in Canada and the United States.

Some of George Brown’s greatest accomplishments include winning the Cogswell Belt race from 1864-1868 (he was given permanent possession of the belt for his outstanding efforts). He won at Digby Gut in 1872 and defeated other rowing greats such as John Biglin in 1873; American Bill Scharff, the U.S. Champion, in 1874, and Evan Morris, also an American, in 1874.

George Brown’s career defining moment and true claim to fame is being the only Nova Scotian ever to win the World’s Single Rowing Championship. George Brown, the World Champion, died in July, 1875 and is one of the Original Inductees of the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame.