The Browne Medals (also known as the Sir William Browne's Medals)[1] are gold medals which since 1774 have been awarded for annual undergraduate competitions in Latin and Greek poetry at the University of Cambridge.
Sir William Browne, who had been president of the College of Physicians, died in 1774. His will left an endowment to the university:
Sir William Browne having directed his executors to produce a die for annually striking of two medals of gold, of five guineas value each, to be sent to the vice-chancellor of Cambridge about the beginning of January, to be given by him, at the following commencement, to two undergraduates, one for the best Greek Ode in imitation of Sappho, the other for the best Latin ode in imitation of Horace, on a subject to be appointed by the Vice-Chancellor; also one other gold medal, of like value, to be given by him to the undergraduate who shall produce the best Greek epigram after the model of Anthologia, and the best Latin epigram after the model of Martial.[2]
The endowment, invested as a trust fund called the Browne Fund, is still used to encourage classical study at the university.[3]
This list is incomplete. Many of the earlier names of this list have been drawn from Classical Turns.[4] The winners of the prize are published in the Cambridge University Reporter.
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