Neill S. Brown
Encyclopedia
Neill Smith Brown was Governor of Tennessee from 1847 to 1849.
. He was admitted to the bar
in 1834, and later fought with the 1st Tennessee in the Second Seminole War
. He was a member of the state legislature
from 1841 to 1847, prior to his receiving the nomination of the Whig Party for governor of Tennessee. He defeated the incumbent
Democratic
governor, Aaron V. Brown
(no relation). Development of telegraph service began around this time. A law was passed by the legislature during his administration calling for true public schools to be established throughout the state, but it was left to local governments to implement the provisions of this law, and very little was to come out of it.
Brown was defeated for re-election in 1849 by Democrat William Trousdale
. He was later U.S.
minister to Russia
and again served in the state legislature. He also served as a delegate to the state constitutional convention
of 1870 which composed the current Constitution of Tennessee
.
His younger brother, John C. Brown
, served as governor of Tennessee from 1871 to 1875.
Biography
Neill Brown was born in Giles County, Tennessee. He taught school in his native county to work his way through collegeCollege
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
. He was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1834, and later fought with the 1st Tennessee in the Second Seminole War
Seminole Wars
The Seminole Wars, also known as the Florida Wars, were three conflicts in Florida between the Seminole — the collective name given to the amalgamation of various groups of native Americans and Black people who settled in Florida in the early 18th century — and the United States Army...
. He was a member of the state legislature
Tennessee General Assembly
The Tennessee General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional structure:According to the Tennessee State Constitution of 1870, the General Assembly is a bicameral legislature and consists of a Senate of thirty-three members and a House of Representatives of...
from 1841 to 1847, prior to his receiving the nomination of the Whig Party for governor of Tennessee. He defeated the incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
governor, Aaron V. Brown
Aaron V. Brown
Aaron Venable Brown was a Governor of Tennessee and Postmaster General in the Buchanan administration. He was also the law partner of James K. Polk.-Biography:...
(no relation). Development of telegraph service began around this time. A law was passed by the legislature during his administration calling for true public schools to be established throughout the state, but it was left to local governments to implement the provisions of this law, and very little was to come out of it.
Brown was defeated for re-election in 1849 by Democrat William Trousdale
William Trousdale
William Trousdale was Governor of Tennessee from 1849 to 1851.Trousdale was a protege of Andrew Jackson, having served under him in the Creek War and acquiring the nickname, "The War Horse of Sumner County" in that conflict. He was a Democrat...
. He was later U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
minister to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and again served in the state legislature. He also served as a delegate to the state constitutional convention
Constitutional convention (political meeting)
A constitutional convention is now a gathering for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing constitution. A general constitutional convention is called to create the first constitution of a political unit or to entirely replace an existing constitution...
of 1870 which composed the current Constitution of Tennessee
Tennessee State Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Tennessee defines the form, structure, activities, character, and fundamental rules of the U.S. State of Tennessee....
.
His younger brother, John C. Brown
John C. Brown
John Calvin Brown was a Confederate general during the American Civil War and the Governor of Tennessee from 1871 to 1875, the first Democrat to be elected to that position following the war.-Early life:...
, served as governor of Tennessee from 1871 to 1875.