Lex Brown (businessman)

{{Short description|Scottish businessman}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Lex Brown

| birth_place = Maybole, Ayrshire

| nationality = Scottish

| occupation = businessman

}}

Lex Brown (born Maybole, Ayrshire) is a Scottish businessman. A former decorated RAF helicopter pilot,{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/the-first-time-he-saw-castle-tioram-he-almost-flew-a-helicopter-into-it-now-this-ex-raf-pilot-says-he-s-fighting-to-save-the-highland-landmark-so-who-is-lex-brown-and-why-is-there-such-hostility-to-his-pounds-4-5-million-plans-1.70728|title=The battle for Castle Tioram|last=Tierney|first=Michael|date=15 November 2004|work=The Herald|accessdate=27 June 2011|location=Glasgow}} he came to public attention after buying Tioram Castle, in Moidart, for £300,000 in 1997.

There followed years of high-profile conflicts with Historic Scotland, Highland Council and other interested parties,{{cite news|url=http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/12-years-and-a-few.5646132.jp|title=12 years and a few millions later, Lex Brown may soon be king of his castle|last=Ross|first=John|date=15 September 2009|work=The Scotsman|accessdate=27 June 2011|location=Edinburgh}} including a public inquiry in 2002 and an appeal to the Scottish Government in 2006.

Following a change of personnel at Historic Scotland.,{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/scotland-travel/tycoon-is-king-of-the-castle-after-winning-battle-to-restore-ancient-clan-stronghold-x6rdths860g|title=Tycoon is king of the castle after winning battle to restore ancient clan stronghold|last=Drainey|first=Nick|date=27 June 2011|work=The Times|access-date=27 June 2011|location=London}} Brown renewed discussions with HS of his plans to reroof and live in Castle Tioram, though these are still at an early stage.{{cite news| url=http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/news/indepth/castletioram.htm|title=Castle Tioram|work=Historic Scotland web pages|accessdate=1 May 2012}}

Brown was mostly brought up overseas, in Egypt and Ghana, where his father worked as a civil engineer. His Gaelic-speaking, west highland mother endowed Brown with a respect for his highland heritage.

After 20 years in the armed forces, Brown farmed on Loch Lomondside before making a fortune in the air cargo and oil exploration business.