Rex Browning was born 22 July 1930, the son of Gilbert H. W. Browning and Gladys (née Smith). He was educated at Bristol Grammar School and Merton College, Oxford (Postmaster) (MA), marrying Paula McKain in 1961. He died on 29 May 2009.

He served as: an Inspector of Taxes, 1952; Assistant Principal, Colonial Office, 1957; Private Secretary to Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Colonies, 1960; Principal, Department of Technical Co-operation, 1961; transferred ODM, 1964; seconded to Diplomatic Service as First Secretary (Aid), British High Commission, Singapore, 1969; Assistant Secretary, 1971; Counsellor, Overseas Development, Washington [United States], and Alternate UK Executive Director, IBRD, 1973-76; Under-Secretary: ODM, 1976-78; Department of Trade, 1978-80; Overseas Development Administration, 1980-81; Deputy Secretary, Overseas Development Administration, 1981-86.