by the 1760s, he was earning on average £6,000 () a year, usually £500 () for one commission. as an accomplished rider he was able to work fast, taking only an hour or so on horseback to survey an estate and rough out an entire design. in 1764, brown was appointed king george iii's master gardener at hampton court palace, succeeding john greening and residing at the wilderness house. in 1767 he bought an estate for himself at fenstanton in huntingdonshire from the earl of northampton and was appointed high sheriff of cambridgeshire and huntingdonshire for 1770, although his son lance carried out most of the duties.