Career
A native of Denmark, Brown immigrated to the United States. and joined the Navy from Maryland. By May 10, 1866, he was serving as captain of the afterguard on the United States Ship De Soto. On that day, while the De Soto was off the coast of Eastport, Maine, he and two shipmates rescued two sailors from the United States Ship Winooski from drowning.
Foreign heroic conduct with 2 comrades, in rescuing from drowning James Rose and John Russell, seamen, of the United States.S. Winooski, off Eastport, Maine, 10 May 1866.