Em dezembro de 1800 Brown aceitou emprego como naturalista a bordo do navio HMS Investigator, sob o comando de Matthew Flinders, então a fazer os preparativos finais para uma viagem de exploração à costa da Austrália. A viagem, que se tornaria histórica pelos seus resultados, destinava-se a fazer o levantamento hidrográfico da costa australiana.
Depois de uma longa e acidentada viagem, o HMS Investigator chegou a King George Sound, naquilo que é hoje a Austrália Ocidental em dezembro de 1801. Durante três anos e meio Brown levou a cabo um intenso trabalho de investigação sobre a vegetação e a composição florística da das regiões da Austrália que visitou, recolhendo cerca de 3 400 espécies, das quais cerca de 2 000 eram então desconhecidas para a ciência. Infelizmente, uma grande parte da sua colecção perdeu-se quando o navio Porpoise, que a transportava com destino a Londres, naufragou em viagem.
Sendo um dos cientistas que acompanharam Flinders em sua viagem histórica, manteve-se a bordo do Investigator em exploração da costa australiana de dezembro de 1801 até terminar o cruzeiro, em junho de 1803, no porto de Sydney. Apesar de acabada a viagem de exploração, Brown optou por permanecer na Austrália até maio de 1805.
Regressado à Inglaterra em 1805, despendeu os quatro anos seguintes a estudar e organizar a sua colecção de plantas. Durante este período publicou numerosas descrições de novas espécies e géneros: apenas para a região ocidental da Austrália deve-se a Brown a descrição de cerva de 1200 novas espécies. Em 1810 publicou os resultados do seu trabalho sobre a flora australiana na sua famosa obra Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae, a primeira descrição sistemática da flora da Austrália.
Neste ano Robert Brown sucedeu a Jonas Carlsson Dryander como bibliotecário de Sir Joseph Banks, e após a morte deste, ocorrida em 1820, herdou a sua biblioteca e herbário. Brown ofereceu-os em 1827 ao British Museum, sendo então nomeado conservador da Banksian Botanical Collection, a colecção de espécimes e de literatura botânica que tinha sido feita por Joseph Banks.
Em 1827, quando examinava ao microscópio uma suspensão aquosa de grãos de pólen e esporos de musgos e de Equisetum, Brown observou que pequenas partículas contidas nos vacúolos dos grãos de pólen executavam pequenos movimentos aparentemente aleatórios. Intrigado, observou que o mesmo fenómeno ocorria em partículas de pó, o que lhe permitiu concluir que os movimentos não eram devidos a mecanismos biológicos associados ao pólen. Apesar de não ter conseguido encontrar a verdadeira explicação para o fenómeno observado, este passou a designar-se por movimento browniano, em honra do seu descobridor.
Por volta de 1833, Brown descobriu o núcleo celular, sendo o primeiro a descrever a sua presença nas células dos eucariotas.
Depois da divisão do Departamento de História Natural do British Museum em três secções, ocorrida em 1837, Robert Brown exerceu as funções de primeiro conservador do Departamento de Botânica, mantendo-se nesse cargo até à sua morte, ocorrida em Londres, em 10 de junho de 1858. Foi sucedido nas suas funções no British Museum por John Joseph Bennett.
O nome de Robert Brown é lembrado na designação do género de herbáceas australianas Brunonia e por múltiplas espécies, entre as quais o eucaliptoEucalyptus brownii.
Apenas o material publicado está listado abaixo.
Décadas de 1800 e 1810
Brown, Robert (1801), [treatment of Orthotrichum] - Dickson, James, Fasciculus plantarum cryptogamicarum Britanniae4: 5–6.
Brown, Robert (1810), Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae van Diemen.
Brown, Robert (1810), On the Asclepiadaceae
Brown, Robert (1810), On the natural order of plants called Proteaceae.
Brown, Robert (1811), "On the Asclepiadeae, a natural order of plants separated from the Apocineae of Jussieu" - Memoirs of the Wernerian Natural History Society1
Brown, Robert (1811) "On the Proteaceae of Jussieu" - Transactions of the Linnean Society of London10:15–226.
Aiton, William Townsend (1811–1813), Hortus Kewensis ("2nd edition)
Brown, Robert (1811), "Some observations on the parts of fructification in mosses" - Transactions of the Linnean Society of London10
"On Woodsia, a new genus of ferns" - Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, 11 (1812), pp. 170–174
* Brown, Robert (1814), "General remarks, geographical and systematical on the botany of Terra Australis" - Flinders, Matthew A voyage to Terra Australis2
Brown, Robert (1814), "List of new and rare plants, collected during the years 1805 and 1810, arranged according to the Linnaean system" - Salt, Henry, A voyage to AbyssiniaAppendix 4: lxiii–lxv.
"Some Observations on the natural Family of Plants called Compositæ" - Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, 12 (1816), pp. 76–142
"On some remarkable Deviations from the usual Structure of Seeds and Fruits" - Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, 12 (1816), pp. 143–151
Brown, Robert (1818), "Observations on the herbarium collected by Professor Christian Smith" - Tuckey, J. K. Narrative of an expedition to explore the River Zaire
Brown, Robert (1818), "Characters and descriptions of three new species of plants, found in China by Clarke Abel, Esq." - Abel, Clarke Narrative of a journey in the interior of China
Brown, Robert (1819), "List of plants collected by the officers etc. - Capt. Ross's voyage on the coasts of Baffin's Bay" - Ross, J. A voyage of discovery made under the orders of the Admiralty, in His Majesty's ships Isabella and Alexander, for the purpose of exploring Baffin's Bay
Bowdich, T. E. (1819), A mission from Cape Coast Castle to Ashantee.
Brown, Robert (1819), "Characters and description of Lyellia, a new genus of mosses, with observations on the section of the order to which it belongs" - Transactions of the Linnean Society of London12
Brown, Robert (1819), "Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae van-Diemen" (reprint) - Oken, Lorenz (ed.), Isis
Década de 1820
Brown, Robert (1820), "Catalogue of plants found in Spitzbergen by Captain Scoresby" - Scoresby, W. An account of the Arctic regions1
Brown, Robert (1821), "An account of a new genus of plants, named Rafflesia" - Transactions of the Linnean Society of London13
Brown, Robert (1823), "Addendum to Captain Franklin's narrative" - Franklin, J. Narrative of a journey to the shores of the Polar Sea
Brown, Robert (1823), Chloris Melvilleana.
Brown, Robert (1824), "A list of plants collected in Melville Island" - Parry, W. E., Journal of a voyage for the discovery of a north-west passage.
Brown, Robert (1825), Verzeichniss der auf Madeira wildwachsenden Pflanzen - von Buch, Christian Leopold, Physicalishe Beschriebung der Canarischen Inseln.
Brown, Robert; Nees von Esenbeck, C. G. D (ed., translator) (1825–1834) Robert Brown's Vermischte botanische Schriften
Brown, Robert (1826), Observations on the structure and affinities of the more remarkable plants collected by the late Walter Oudney, M.D., and Major Denham, and Captain Clapperton, in the years 1822, 1823, and 1824, during their expedition to explore Central Africa.
Denham, Dixon and Clapperton, Hugh (1826), Narrative of travels and discoveries in northern and central Africa
Brown, Robert (1826), Character and description of Kingia
King, Phillip Parker (1827), Narrative of a survey of the intertropical and western coasts of Australia performed in the years 1818 and 1822
Brown, Robert; (1827), [German translation of Observations on the structure and affinities of the more remarkable plants collected by the late Walter Oudney, M.D., and Major Denham, and Captain Clapperton, in the years 1822, 1823, and 1824, during their expedition to explore Central Africa] - Linnaea2:283–344.
Brown, Robert (1828), "A brief account of microscopical observations made on the particles contained in the pollen of plants" - London and Edinburgh philosophical magazine and journal of science4 :161-173.
Década de 1830
Brown, Robert (1831), "General view of the botany of the vicinity of Swan River" - Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London, 1 (1831), pp. 17–21.
Nind, Scott; introduction by Robert Brown (1831), "Description of the Natives of King George's Sound (Swan River Colony) and adjoining Country" - Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London, 1 (1831), pp. 21–50.
Brown, Robert (1832), "Remarks on the structure and affinities of Cephalotus" - London and Edinburgh philosophical magazine and journal of science1 (1832):314:317.
Décadas de 1840 e 1850
Brown, Robert (1849) "Botanical appendix" - Sturt, Charles, Narrative of an expedition into central Australia, 2, pp. 66-92
Brown, Robert (1850) "On the origin and mode of propagation of the Gulf-weed" - Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London, 2, pp. 77-80.
Brown, Robert (1851) "Some account of Triplosporite, an undescribed Fossil Fruit" - Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, 20, pp. 469-475
Brown, Robert (1854) "Statement of the services of the late Captain Mathew Flinders" - Nautical magazine and journal of the naval reserve for 1854: 31–33.
Póstumo
Brown, Robert; Bennett, John Joseph (ed.) (1866–1868) The miscellaneous botanical works of Robert Brown, Esq., D.C.L., F.R.S..
Brown, Robert (post.); Trimen, Henry (introd.) (1871), "The botanical history of Angus" - Seemann, Berthold (ed.), Journal of botany, British and foreign9:321–327.
Obituários e elogios
Bennett, John Joseph (1858) "Robert Brown D.C.L." - Proceedings of the Royal Society of London9:527–532.
Bennett, John Joseph (1858) "[Robert Brown]" - Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London1855–1863.
Hooker, Joseph Dalton (1858) "Dr Robert Brown, D.C.L., F.R.S., Foreign Member of the Academy of Sciences of the Institute of France" - Gardener's Chronicle1858:493–494.
Hooker, Joseph Dalton (1858) "The late Robert Brown, L.L.D., F.R.S., &c." - Gardener's Chronicle1858:701, 732–733.
von Martius, Carl Friedrich Philipp (1859) "Robert Brown. Eine akademishe Denkrede" - Flora42:10–15, 25–31.
von Martius, Carl Friedrich Philipp; Henfrey, A. (translator) (1859) "Robert Brown, an eloge" - Annals and Magazine of Natural History3(3):321–331.
Murchison, R. I. (1859), "Obituary. Robert Brown" - Journal of the Royal Geographical Society29:cxv–cxix.
Hooker, Joseph Dalton (1890) "Eulogium on Robert Brown" - Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London1887–1888:54–67.
Outras obras biográficas
"Brown, Robert (3)," - Alumni Oxonienses: the Members of the University of Oxford, 1715-1886, by Joseph Foster, London: Parker and Co. (1888–1892) - 4 vols.
Balfour, John Hutton (1860), "I. Biographical Sketch of the late Robert Brown" - Botanical Journal of Scotland6(1-4):118-128.
"Brown, Robert (1773-1858)," - Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, London: Smith, Elder, & Co. (1885–1900) - 63 vols.
Anonymous (1888), "Montrose celebrities: Robert Brown - Sunnyside Chronicle1:138–141.
Carruthers, William (1896), "The Robert Brown memorial" - Journal of botany, British and foreign34:26–29.
"Brown, Robert," - Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed., 1911)
Farmer, John Bretland (1913), "Robert Brown 1773—1858" - Oliver, Francis Wall (ed.), Makers of British botany: 108–125.
Ardagh, John (1928) "Portraits and memorials of Robert Brown of the British Museum" - Natural history magazine1: 158–162.
Giblin, Ronald Worthy (1929) "Flinders, Baudin and Brown at Encounter Bay" - Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania1929:1–6.
Giblin, Ronald Worthy (1929) "Robert Brown at Port Dalrymple" - Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania1929:25–32.
Savage, Spencer (1932), "Robert Brown as an official of the Linnean Society" - Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London144: 38–42.
Serle, Percival (1949), "Brown, Robert (1773-1858)" - Dictionary of Australian Biography.
Rupp, Herman Montague Rucker (1950), "Robert Brown, a brief memoir" - Australian orchid review '15:110.
Willis, J. H.; Skewes, C. I. (1955), "Robert Brown's Bass Strait journal of April/May 1802" - Muelleria1: 46–50.
Osborn, Theodore George Bentley (1958), "Robert Brown (1773–1858)" - Australian Journal of Science21:127–130.
Burbidge, Nancy Tyson (1966), "Brown, Robert (1773 - 1858)" - Australian Dictionary of Biography1: 166-167.
Stearn, William (1970), "Brown, Robert" - Gillespie, C. C. (ed.) Dictionary of scientific biography2: 516–523.
Stearn, William (1977), "Robert Brown" - Brunonia1:1–7.
Mabberley, David (1981), "Robert Brown of the British Museum: some ramifications" inJournal of the Society for the Bibliography of Natural History1:101–109.
Mabberley, David (1985), Jupiter botanicus: Robert Brown of the British Museum.
Trabalhos sobre as contribuições científicas de Brown
Britten, James (1904), "R. Brown's list of Madeira plants" - Journal of botany, British and foreign42:1–8, 29–46, 175–182, 197–200.
Britten, James (1907), "Robert Brown's 'Prodromus'" - Journal of botany, British and foreign45:246–248.
Britten, James (1922), "Robert Brown and the 'Monthly Magazine'" - Journal of botany, British and foreign60:177–184.
Kinnear, Norman Boyd (1932), "Robert Brown's zoological collections" - Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London144:36–38.
Stephenson, J. (1932), "Robert Brown's discovery of the nucleus in relation to the history of cell theory" - Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London144: 45–54.
Ramsbottom, John (1932), "Centenary of Robert Brown's discovery of the nucleus" - Journal of botany, British and foreign70:13–16.
Ramsbottom, John (1932), "Robert Brown: botanicorum facile princeps" - Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London144:17–36
Polunin, Nicholas; Clokie, H. (1945), "Robert Brown (1773-1858) and 'Brownian movement'" - Chemistry and Industry22:172-3.
Burbidge, Nancy Taylor (1956) "Robert Brown's Australian collecting localities" - Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales80:229–233.
Green, J. H. S. (1958), "Robert Brown (1773–1858) and the Brownian movement" - Research11:290–291.
Kerr, R. (1964) "The sharp eyes of Robert Brown" - Australian Orchid Review29:16–19, 124–127.
Brush, Stephen G. (1967) "A history of random processes" - Archive for History of Exact Sciences5(1):1-36.
Rourke, J. P. (1974), "Robert Brown at the Cape of Good Hope" - Journal of South African Botany40: 47–60.
Edwards, Phyllis (1976) "Robert Brown (1773–1858) and the natural history of Matthew Flinders' voyage - H.M.S. Investigator, 1801–1805" - Journal of the Society for the Bibliography of Natural History7:385–407.
