Joseph Mackey Brown

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Joseph Mackey Brown

Joseph Mackey Brown (born December 28, 1851 in Canton , Georgia , † March 3, 1932 in Marietta , Georgia) was an American politician and served twice as governor of Georgia .

Youth and political advancement

Joseph Brown was the son of Joseph E. Brown and his wife Elizabeth Grisham. The father had been the governor of Georgia between 1857 and 1865 during the Civil War. The younger Joseph graduated from Oglethorpe University in 1872 and then studied law at Harvard University . Due to an eye disease, however, he was unable to practice as a lawyer. Instead, he studied economics in Atlanta and was then employed by the Western and Atlantic Railroad . By 1889 he was promoted to traffic manager for the entire route network at this railway company . He received his first political office in 1904 when the then Governor of Georgia, Joseph M. Terrell , appointed him to the state railroad committee. A controversy with Terrell's successor, Hoke Smith , led to his retirement from the committee in 1907. Brown decided in the gubernatorial elections of 1908 to run himself as a candidate and replace Smith. Because Smith was relatively unpopular and had lost the support of influential Senator Thomas E. Watson , Brown won the election.

The feud with Hoke Smith

In the years that followed, Brown and Hoke Smith waged a long-term feud. Brown remained governor from 1909 to 1911. In 1910 Smith was able to prevail in the party primaries and replace Brown. Shortly after taking office in 1911, however, Smith was elected US Senator to succeed the late Alexander S. Clay . After John M. Slaton temporarily led the office, Brown decided in 1912 to run again. He was elected and had a second term from 1912 to 1913. The feud with Smith continued. In 1914 Brown ran against his rival for his seat in the Senate. After his defeat, Brown gave up and never ran for public office again.

Georgia Governor

So Joseph Brown served twice as governor of Georgia in 1909-11 and 1912-1913. As governor, he advocated an alcohol prohibition law , advocated a tax cut, and supported the establishment of a new Ministry of Labor. During his tenure, Georgia was the first to register motor vehicles, enact driver's license and traffic regulations. Driving under the influence of alcohol was prohibited.

End of life and death

After leaving office, Brown spent the rest of his life in Marietta. There he was a banker and vice president of the First National Bank of Marietta . He was involved in the 1915 lynching of Leo Frank . He died on March 3, 1932. Brown had been married to Cora Annie McCord since 1889.

literature

  • Joseph M. Brown: The Mountain Campaigns in Georgia: Or, War Scenes on the W. and A. Art-printing Works of Matthews, Northrup & Co., Buffalo NY 1886.
  • James F. Cook: The Governors of Georgia, 1754-2004. 3rd edition, revised and expanded. Mercer University Press, Macon GA 2005, ISBN 0-86554-954-0 .
  • William Montgomery Gabard: Joseph Mackey Brown: A Study in Conservatism. New Orleans LA 1963 (Tulane University, Master's Thesis).

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Brown, Joseph Mackey
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician
DATE OF BIRTH December 28, 1851
PLACE OF BIRTH Canton , Georgia
DATE OF DEATH March 3, 1932
Place of death Marietta , Georgia