Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/473

BROWN.BROWN. BROWN, John Mason, lawyer, was boru in Frankfort, Ky., April 26, 1837. He was gradu- ated from Yale in 1856, and for two years studied law under the Hon. Thomas N. Lindsay of Frank- fort. At the age of twenty -one he was licensed to practice, and settled in St. Louis, Mo., but his health being impaired by over-study he decided to go among the Indians, in whom he had always been much interested. This he did, living with them in their wigwams, hunting with them, studying their habits and learning to converse with them in their own language. During this time he kept a journal and made numerous notes and observations, which were used in the Encyclopajdia Britannica. In 1863 he entered the Union army as major of the 10th Kentucky cavalry, and the following year was promoted to colonel. He fought gallantly throughout the war, returning at its close to Frankfort, where he resumed the practice of his profession. In 1869 he removed to Lexington, and in 1873 to Louisville, where he remained until the time of his death. He died in Louisville, Ky., Jan. 29, 1890.

BROWN, John Nicholas, capitalist, was born in Providence, R.I., Dec. 17, 1861 ; eldest son of John Carter and Sophia Augusta (Browne) Brown : and grandson of Nicholas and Ann <Carter) Brown and of the Hon. Patrick Browne, member of the council and associate justice of the general court of the Bahama Islands. John Nicholas was educated by pi'ivate tutors in Prov- idence, R.I., and in Europe, where he spent some years in study and travel. He gave his entire time to the care of his vast estate inherited from his father and in carrying out numerous benefac- tions. He was a presidential elector on the Harrison and Morton ticket in 1888 and declined the nomination for governor of Rhode Island. He presented the city of Providence with $200.- 000 for the erection of a public library in 1897 and

PBOVIPEAJCE PUBLK Ll&RARY.

in 1898 he raised the amount to nearly $250,000 in order that the building might be placed in proper surroundings. He also contributed a large sum for the reconstruction of the building of the Rhode Island historical society. He was married

Sept. 8, 1897, to Nathalie, daughter of Col. George W. Dresser of New York city. He was elected a member of the Massachusetts historical society in 1888 ; of the American antiquarian society, and of the Rliode Island historical society. He also served as president of the Churchmen's club. He died in New York city May 1, 1900.

BROWN, John Porter, orientalist,, was born at Chillicothe, Ohio, Aug. 17, 1814. He was ap- pointed midshipman in the U.S. navy, but left in 1832 to accompany his uncle David Porter, U.S. minister to Constantinople, on his mission. He became assistant dragoman in 1883 ; first drago- man in 1836, and secretary of the U.S. legation 1858-72, acting several times as charge d'affaires. He is the author of : '"The Dervishes, or Oriental Spiritualism" (1868) ; " Turkish Evening Enter- tainments " a translation for Ahmed Ben Hemden (1850) and a translation of Constantine's " An- cient and Modern Constantinople (1868). He died in Constantinople, April 28, 1872.

BROWN, John Young, governor of Kentucky, was born in Clayville, Ky., June 28, 1835. He was graduated at Centre college in 1855 ; studied law in Elizabethtown, and engaged in practice in Henderson, Ky. He was elected a representative in the 36th congress, but only served the last three months of his term, having just reached the con- stitutional age. He was a presidential elector on the Douglas ticket in 1860, and in 1866 was elected a representative to the 40th Congress, but was not allowed to take his seat on account of alleged disloyalty. He was elected to the 43d Congress, and in 1874 was elected to the 44th Congress. In the 43d Congress he delivered a powerful philippic against Gen. B. F. Butler, which brought upon him the censure of Mr. Blaine, the speaker of the house, but endeared him to his constituents. In 1877 he voluntarily retired from politics and as- sumed the practice of law. In 1891 he was elected governor of Kentucky, to succeed Simon B ^livar Buckner, and at the end of his term re- tue I to private life.

BROWN, Joseph, educator, was born in Provi- 1 lu-e, R. I., Dec. 3, 1733 ; son of James and Hope (Power) Brown, and a direct descendant of Chad Blown. In his boyhood he evinced a love for study, especially the natural sciences, and after entering business he remained only long enough to supply himself with the means to gratify his s^l.v.larly tastes. He was an electrician of ability and was also interested in the study of astronomy, his papers on the subject attracting , attention among scientists. He was especially fond of mechanics and invented an excellent electric machine. In 1769, with his brother Moses, he made observations on the transit of Venus. In the same year he was elected a trustee of Brown university, and the following