Thomas Brown (Governor)

Thomas Brown (right) with his daughter

Thomas Brown (born October 25, 1785 in Westmoreland County , Virginia , † August 24, 1867 in Tallahassee , Florida ) was an American politician and from 1849 to 1853 the 2nd governor of Florida.

Early years and political advancement

Thomas Brown grew up in Westmoreland County, home of George Washington and James Monroe . He took part in the British-American War of 1812 on the staff of General John Pratt Hungerford . He then worked in the Richmond Post Office . On this occasion he invented the mailbox.

From 1817 Brown was politically active in Virginia. That year he was elected to the Virginia House of Representatives, where he remained until 1828. In 1828 he moved to Florida, where he was also politically active. At the time, Florida did not have state status . It was a territory that was striving to be incorporated into the United States as soon as possible. In 1838, Brown was President of the Territorial House of Representatives. A year later he was one of the delegates drafting a new constitution for Florida. After Florida officially became a state on March 3, 1845 and the constitution went into effect, Brown became a member of the first Florida House of Representatives .

Florida governor

Brown was nominated as a candidate by the Whig Party for the upcoming gubernatorial election in 1849 . After a successful election, he was able to take up his four-year term as the second governor of Florida on October 1, 1849. During this time he campaigned for the improvement of the country's infrastructure. This included improving the state's roads and canals. He also promoted the development and expansion of the school system. He also considered draining the Everglades to gain farmland. But this was not achieved.

Further life

Due to a constitutional clause, Brown could not be directly re-elected in 1853. Therefore, he resigned on October 3, 1853. He remained the only Whig governor in Florida history. Then he retired from public life. He spent the rest of his life at his home in Tallahassee, where he died in 1867. Thomas Brown was married to Elizabeth Simpson, with whom he had seven children.

literature

• Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 1, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

• Thomas Brown in the National Governors Association (English)

• Thomas Brown in the database of Find a Grave (English)
• Florida Governors' Portraits