John Brown was an American senator and Kentucky legislator. He is regarded for his service as an United States senator for the state of Kentucky from 1792-1805.
Background
John Brown was born on September 12, 1757 and came of distinguished ancestry. His father, having the same name, was for almost half a century a Presbyterian minister in Rockbridge County, Virginia, and his mother, Margaret, was a daughter of John Preston, a connection which related him to the Clays and Breckinridges. He was born in Staunton, Virginia, one of four brothers (John, James (1766-1835), Samuel, and Preston W. ).
Education
John Brown entered Princeton College and being there when the Americans retreated through New Jersey, he joined Washington's forces and later became one of the Rockbridge soldiers under Lafayette. After his military career he continued his education at William and Mary College and then studied law under the supervision of Thomas Jefferson.
Career
In 1782 John Brown moved to Kentucky, and settled first at Danville, the political center at that time, but soon removed to Frankfort where he lived thereafter. He readily adapted himself to the Western country and soon became its most outstanding supporter and spokesman.
In 1787 he had conversations with Don Gardoqui, the Spanish minister, which led him to advocate the immediate separation of Kentucky from Virginia and the nation, for the purpose of taking advantage of Spain's offer of the free navigation of the Mississippi River. He represented Kentucky in the Virginia legislature in 1787, and as a means of pacifying Kentucky that body appointed him a representative in the Confederation Congress.
He returned to Kentucky in 1788 and was immediately elected a delegate to the Kentucky constitutional convention of that year. Soon afterward he was elected one of Kentucky's delegates to the Virginia convention called to consider the new Federal Constitution, where he voted against its ratification.
In 1789 upon the establishment of the new government, he represented the Kentucky district of Virginia in Congress and was reelected for a second term, but on the entry of Kentucky into the Union as a state in 1792 he became a United States senator and continued in that position until 1805.
In 1803-04 he was president pro tempore of the Senate. When Aaron Burr came west on his mysterious journeys he stayed in the home of Brown at Frankfort.
Achievements
Politics
Though Brown was thus friendly with Burr, Brown was a constant supporter of Jefferson and had stood for his election to the presidency in 1800-01.
Views
John Brown was widely acquainted and was on intimate terms of friendship with the first five presidents of the United States, though he never accepted proffered favors from any of them.
Membership
Brown was a member of the Kentucky Manufacturing Society.
Connections
In 1799 John Brown married Margaretta, a daughter of John Mason of New York who was Lafayette's chaplain in the Revolution, and the same year he built in Frankfort "Liberty Hall, " his residence, from plans drawn by Jefferson.