Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/471

BROWN.BROWN. presidency of the Tennessee coal, iron and rail- road company. He died at Red Boiling Spring, Tenn., Aug. 17, 1889.

BROWN, John Carter, merchant, was born in Providence, R. I., Aug. 28, 1797; the youngest son of Nicholas and Ann (Carter) Brown. His preparatory education was acquired in Hartford, Conn., and he was graduated from Brown uni- versity in 1816. He entered the employ of the firm of Brown & Ives, of which his father was senior partner, and was admitted into partner- ship in 1833. In 1828 he was elected a trustee of Brown university, and in 1842 a fellow. His father's death in 1841 gave him the control of a large fortime. He managed his business with prudence and ability, spent much time in travel, and collected many rare and curious books. His gifts to Brown university are estimated at about one himdred and sixty thousand dollars, in books and money. He also gave liberally to other schools and charitable institutions, the Rhode Island hospital receiving more than eighty-four thousand dollars. He was a stanch anti-slavery advocate, and during the civil war gave sub- stantial proof of his sympathy with the Union cause. Among his precious books were copies of the Aldine editions of the ancient classics, and of the more famous of the Polyglot Bibles, and he also accumulated a vast number of works on the history of early discoveries, the methods of colonization and the process of civilization of America. Nearly all the publications on Ameri- cana in any language were thus gathered by him, beginning with the Columbus letters of 1493, and ending with the political pamphlets of 1800. An elaborate bibliography of his library was prepared by John Russell Bartlett, in four volumes (1867- '71) a few copies being issued for private distribution. For further account of his life see " The Chad Brown Memorial " (1888). He died June 10, 1874.

BROWN, John George, artist, was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, Nov. 11, 1831; son of John and Ann Brown. He studied at first in the government school of design in his native town, and then at the Royal academy at Edin- burgh, where he received instruction from Robert Scott-Laudor, and was the prize student of his class. He came to America in 1853 and located in New York, becoming a pupil in the National academy of design under Thomas Seir Cum- mings. His first picture was exhibited at the academy in 1860, and in the same year he opened a studio at 51 West Tenth street, and in 1897 was still an occupant of this, the oldest studio building in New York city. He was made an associate of the National academy of design in 1862, and an academician in the following year. He soon acquired a wide reputation by his treatment of familiar subjects, receiving medals

in San Francisco and Boston and honorable men- tion in Paris. His reputation as an artist in Europe was greatly enhanced by his painting of the ' ' Pass- ing Show," exhibited in Paris in 1878. In Amer- ica lie received universal commendation for his painting of the "Neighbors," and the "Street Boy," exhibited at the academy of design in 1882. In 1886 he helped to found and was elec ted president of the Vm erican w'^ater-color so- ciety, holding the office by successn e elections in 1897. In 1893 he was chairman of the jury of ^elec tion of pictures at the World's Coliimbian exposition Chicago, and one of the judges of award in" the fine arts department. His work is distinctly American, and his street boys of New York, with their humors and vicissitudes, are esteemed as being actual transcripts from life. Mr. Brown proposed as a site for a new building for the National academy of design the Cathedral drive, Morningside park. New York city. This suggestion was adopted by the academicians Feb. 8, 1897, the vote standing forty to sixteen, and the land was purchased. Among his paint- ings are: " His First Cigar,'" " Curling in Central Park" (1876); "The Passing Show" (1877); "The Dress Parade," "The Three (Scape) Graces,"' "The Longshoreman "s Noon" (1880); "A Merry Air and a Sad Heart" (1880); "A Thrilling Moment " (1881); "The Old Folks at Home" (1882); " Heels over Head,"" and "The Gang"' (1895).

BROWN, John Henry, lii.storian, was born in Pike county, Miss., Oct. 29, 1820, son of Capt. Henry S. Brown, a pioneer settler of Texas, who took part in the revolution of 1835-"36. The son was a member of a celebrated regiment of Texan rangers and took part in the war with Mexico, 1846-'48. After peace with Mexico was declared he engaged in joui-nalism and represented his district in the state legislature. He served as mayor of Galveston and afterwards upon Jiis re- moval to Dallas was made mayor of that city. In the secession convention of 1861 he voted for the measure and at once joined the Confederate armj% serving througliout the civil war. In the days of reconstruction he used his best offices for the promotion of fraternal relations with the people of the north and in the development of the vast resources of the state. He was a delegate to the state convention of 1875. He is the author of :