Interim head coach Scott Johnson has decided to stick with the Saracens man - who was skipper for the autumn internationals - when the Scots run out for the Calcutta Cup match at Twickenham on Saturday.
Brown - capped 52 times - said: "It's a huge honour to captain Scotland. The job now is to work with all the players in the squad to deliver a performance to make the country proud this weekend."
Johnson added: "It was right and proper that the coaches considered the captaincy at the same time as we were looking at selection of our squad for the England game.
"We believe Kelly has the qualities we're looking for to captain Scotland. Captaincy is about deed in my book, not Churchillian oratory, and the experience that Kelly brings to the Test match arena is good for this team.
"We are looking at our leadership group and I'll be naming two vice-captains in the team we announce tomorrow."
