b. in Connecticut; d. June 17, 1867, in Amsterdam, Holland, Netherlands. Brown was admitted to the bar in New York, where he began the practice of law. In 1818 Brown came to Illinois with a group of men which included Samuel D. Lockwood and settled in Kaskaskia, which was at that time the state capital. Brown received an appointment in 1819 to the position of clerk for the United States District Court for the District of Illinois and held that position for sixteen years. The federal court was required to maintain an office at the state's capital so Brown moved to Vandalia, Illinois, in 1820 when it became the new state capital. He was the editor and owner of a local newspaper and was part of a group of people in Illinois who successfully worked to prevent Illinois from becoming a slave state. In 1835, he was appointed cashier of the State Bank of Illinois and moved to Chicago to undertake his duties. When the bank went out of business in 1837, Brown remained in Chicago and returned to the practice of law. He was one of a group of men who purchased the charter for the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad and later served as its president. He died during a tour of Europe.