Browne, Charles Farrar (born Brown) (1834–1867)

US writer and humorist. He created the blustery character Artemus Ward, through whom he satirized contemporary society in the Cleveland Plain Dealer letters 1857–59. This series of letters, describing his observations and thoughts, were part of the ongoing American tradition of ‘unlettered’ colloquial writing culminating in Mark Twain's work. He also invented the comic lecture.

He was born in Waterford, Maine. Browne joined Vanity Fair's staff in 1859 and after 1861 toured the USA and England impersonating Ward. His comic writings include the books Artemus Ward: His Book (1862) and Artemus Ward: His Travels (1865). He died of tuberculosis while on a lecture tour in England.