Governors 
Welcome to the Brown Family Club's section on "Famous and Notable Browns" which honors Browns and their kinfolk (including descendants) who have been governors and lieutenant governors of the colonies and states.
If you know family information on any Browns or descendants who have been elected to public office, please send us details with as much family history as you know.
If you have information on a Brown or descendant who became well-known (in any state in any field), please send us a copy of it, along with any sources for the information (book, magazine, newspaper, etc.) to preserve in the Family Library.
If you came directly to this site, be sure and visit the Brown Family Club's HOME page where you can learn more about the family club; the Brown family HISTORY section; the Brown family NEWSLETTER (with obituaries, weddings and other news); the Brown family QUERIES section where you can post messages in search of an ancestor or living relative. Click on "HOME" at the bottom of the page to get started.
The kinfolk listed immediately below can be seen on our other sites. Click on the highlighted names to see them.
Aaron Venable Brown, Governor of Tennessee
Albert Gallatin Brown, Governor of Mississippi
Benjamin Gratz Brown, Governor of Missouri
Ethan Allen Brown, Governor of Ohio
Fred Herbert Brown, Governor of New Hampshire
John Calvin Brown, Governor of Tennessee
John Young Brown, Governor of Kentucky
John Young Brown Sr., Governor of Kentucky
Joseph Emerson Brown, Governor of Georgia
Albert Oscar Brown was born 18 Jul 1853 in Northwood, New Hampshire. He was elected Governor of New Hampshire. He was married to Susie Jane Clark. Albert died 28 Mar 1937.
Daniel Russell Brown was born 28 Mar 1848 at Bolton, Toland County, Connecticut, a son of Arba Harrison Brown and Harriet Dart. He went into the supply store with William Butler and established a business that became Butler, Brown & Co. Later, Daniel and his brother bought out the other partners and the firm became Brown Brothers & Co. Daniel also became president of Old Colony Cooperative Bank, vice president of the City Savings Bank, a director of the old National Bank and was involved in several other businesses. Daniel entered politics at an early age and when only 24, he was elected to the Providence Common Council (the city council) as a Republican. The Republican Party nominated him as their candidate for mayor in 1885 but he declined so he could devote his time to his business interests. He was a Republican Presidential Elector for Rhode Island in 1888.
Daniel became the Republican candidate for Governor of Rhode Island in 1892. He received 27,461 votes to 25,433 for the Democrat, W. T. C. Wardwell. He was reelected for a second one-year term.
He was a member of numerous fraternal and civic organizations, including the YMCA, Providence and RI Press clubs, three private clubs, a Mason, Shriner. He was a Congregationalist and attended Beneficent Church. Daniel married Isabel Barrows in 1874. They had one son and three daughters.
Edmond Gerald ("Pat") Brown Sr. was born 21 Apr 1905 in San Francisco, Ca. He became an attorney. He ran as a Republican candidate for the California State Assembly in 1928. He switched patties and was elected Attorney General of California and served 1951 - 1959. He was elected Governor of California and served 1959-1967. He was defeated for reelection in 1966. He was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president in 1960. He was a member of the American Bar Association, the Native Sons of the Golden West, Eagles club, Moose club and was a Roman Catholic. He was the father of Governor Edmond Gerald ("Jerry") Brown Jr. and California State Treasurer Kathleen Brown. He died 16 Feb 1996 in Beverly Hills, Ca. and was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, Ca.
Edmond Gerald ("Jerry") Brown Jr. was born 7 Apr 1938 in San Francisco, Ca., a son of Governor Edmond Gerald ("Pat") Brown Sr. He studied for the Roman Catholic priesthood. He later was elected as a Democrat candidate as California Secretary of State and served 1971-1975. He was elected Governor of California and served 1975-1983. He was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president in 1976, 1980 and 1992. He was elected Mayor of Oakland in 1998.
Frank Brown was born 8 Aug 1846 near Sykesville, Carroll County, Maryland. He was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates and served 1876-1878. He was elected Governor of Maryland and served 1892-1896.
Frank was a Presbyterian. He died 3 Feb 1920 at Baltimore, Md. and was buried in Greemount Cemetery there.
John Calvin Brown Sr. was born 6 Jan 1827 in Giles County, Tennessee, a son of Duncan Brown and Margaret Smith. He graduated from Jackson College, Jackson, Tn. at age 19 in 1848. He studied law and set up practice at Pulaski, Tn. In May, 1861, after Tennessee seceded from the union and the War for Southern Independence began, John entered the Third Regiment of Infantry, Provisional Army of Tennessee as a captain and the same month, was commissioned colonel of the regiment. The regiment then became part of the Provisional Army of the Confederate States. When Confederate forces surrendered Fort Donelson, Tn. to the yankees 16 Feb 1862, John was taken prisoner for six months until a prisoner exchange. Soon after his release, he was commissioned a Brigadier General in 1862. He fought in the Battles of Perryville, Ky. where he was wounded, Missionary Ridge and Chickamauga near Chattanooga, Tn., where he was wounded again. He distinguished himself in the yankee invasion of Georgia from Dalton to Atlanta. He was made a Major General on 4 Aug 1864. He later commanded Cheatham's Division in Tennessee and was severely wounded at the Battle of Franklin, Tn.
At the end of the War, he resumed law practice at Pulaski. He served as a member of the constitutional convention at Nashville in 1870. The next year
In 1871, John was elected Governor of Tennessee, being the first Democrat chosen to that position after the war. He was the second member of his family to be honored with this office. His brother, Neil S. Brown, served as Governor from 1847 to 1849. One of the leading issues of Governor Brown's administration was the state debt, which was $43,000,000 bonded at the beginning of his term, besides a large floating debt. At the end of his second term in 1875, the bonded debt had been reduced to $20,000,000, the large floating debt had been paid and the state's credit had been fully re-established. He was a delegate to the Democratic Party National Convention in 1876.
John married Ann Pointer. They had three daughters and a son. Their elegant home was in Nashville. After her death, he married Bettie Childress in 1864. Governor Brown died at Red Boiling Springs, Tn., 17 Aug 1889. He was buried at Maplewood Cemetery, Pulaski.
John William Brown was born 28 Dec 1913 at Athens, Athens County, Ohio. He was elected Mayor of Medina, Oh. and served 1950-1953.
John was elected Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, 1953-57, 1963-75; Governor of Ohio, 1957; member of Ohio state house of representatives, 1959-60.
He was a member of numerous organizations, including the American Legion, Forty and Eight, Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a Methodist, a Freemason and a Shriner. He died 29 Oct 1993 in Medina, Oh. and was buried at Spring Grove Cemetery there.
John Young Brown Jr. was born 28 Dec 1933 in Lexington, Ky., a son of John Young Brown Sr. John studied law and was admitted to the bar but later said he was not like his lawyer father but preferred the field of business.
Like his father, he was a Democrat. He was elected Governor of Kentucky and served 1979-1983. He was defeated for reelection in the primary, 1987.
He has been owner at various times of the Buffalo Braves, Boston Celtics and the Kentucky Colonels basketball teams. His most famous accomplishment was the purchase of the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant chain and turning it into one of the nation's largest and very profitable restaurant chains.
Joseph Mackey Brown was born 28 Dec 1851 in Georgia, a son of Joseph Emerson ("Joe") Brown who served as Governor of Georgia during the War for Southern Independence and Elizabeth Gresham. He was elected as a Democrat as Governor of Georgia and served two terms, 1909-1911 and 1912-1913. He worked to reduce taxes and state expenditures and enforced prohibition laws. He worked to limit the powers of labor unions and to reduce the regulatory powers of the Georgia Railroad Commission.
He died in Atlanta 3 Mar 1932 and was buried at historic Oakland Cemetery there.
Neil Smith Brown was born 18 Apr 1810 in Giles County, Tennessee, a son of Duncan Brown. He was a brother of Governor John Calvin Brown.
He was elected Governor of Tennessee and served 1847-1849. He was appointed United States Minister (ambassasor) to Russia and serve 1850-1853. He died 30 Jan 1886 and is buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Nashville.
Thomas Brown was born 24 Oct 1785 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He moved to Florida and was elected as a Whig Party candidate as Governor, serving from 1849 - 1853. He died in Tallahassee, FL. 24 Aug 1867 and was buried there in the Old City Cemetery.
Browns, descendants and relatives who have served as lieutenant governors of the colonies and states. Those just below may be seen on our other sites. Click on the highlighted names to see them.
Clarence J. Brown, Lieutenant Governor of Ohio
George Brown was elected Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island and served 1799-1800.
George L. Brown was born 1 Jul 1926 at Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas. He moved to Colorado. He was elected to the Colorado State Senate and served 1956-1875, when he was elected Lieutenant Governor. He served one term, 1975-1979.
He was still living as of 1997.
John C. Brown was elected Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and served one term, 1929-1931.
Nicholas Brown was elected Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island and served 1856-1857.
Simon Brown was from Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He was elected as a Republican candidate as Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts and served 1855-1856. He was a delegate to the Republican Party National Convention in 1856.
Vernon J. Brown was born 20 Mar 1874 in Vevay Township, Ingham County, Michigan. He was elected as a Republican to the Michigan State House of Representatives and served 1929-1938. He was elected at Michigan State Auditor General and served 1939- 1944.
Vernon was elected Lieutenant Governor of Michigan and served 1945-1945. He was a candidate in the Republican primary for governor in 1946 but list his bid.
William M. Brown was born 20 Sep 1850 in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. He was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate, serving 1897-1900;
William was elected Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, and served 1903-07. He died 31 Jan 1915.
Wilson Brown was born 27 Aug 1804. He settled in Cape Girardeau County, Mo. He was elected as a Democrat as Lieutenant Governor of Missouri and served 1853-1855. He died in office on 27 Aug 1855.
to "Famous Browns" MAIN page to Brown Family HISTORY page
to Brown Family HOME page