Second Florida Governor. He received his place in American history, serving as the Governor of the State of Florida from October 1, 1849 to October 3, 1853. After serving in the War of 1812 as an aide to General John P. Hungerford, he was chief clerk of the post office at Richmond, Virginia and was credited for inventing the post office letter box. He was a member of the Virginia Legislature from 1817 to 1828. Moving to the Florida Territory in 1828, he continued in politics, was president of the legislative council in 1838, a member of the constitutional convention in 1839 and served in the first session of the Florida House of Representatives in 1845. Florida became a state on March 3, 1845. On March 14, 1835, Governor Eaton appointed Brown as Adjutant General of the Florida Militia during the Second Seminole War. In 1834 he built Brown's Inn in Tallahassee, which had a name change several times over the years and in 1886, the hotel burnt to the ground. In 1848 as a Whig Party candidate, he was elected Governor of Florida, serving until 1853. He was the only Florida governor that was a member of the Whig Party. During his term, the legislature endorsed the building of a plank toll road from Jacksonville to Lake City, a steamship line was initiated on the St. Johns River, the public East Florida Seminary in Ocala was authorized, and the state's transportation system was advanced. On January 6, 1853, he signed the bill that provided public support to higher education. He made an effort to determine whether the Everglades should be drained to acquire more useable land. A Mason for more than 60 years, he served a long term as secretary in the Tallahassee lodge and compiled a book on Masonry. After leaving office, he lived in retirement until his death at age 81. He married Elizabeth Simpson and the couple had seven children.
Second Florida Governor. He received his place in American history, serving as the Governor of the State of Florida from October 1, 1849 to October 3, 1853. After serving in the War of 1812 as an aide to General John P. Hungerford, he was chief clerk of the post office at Richmond, Virginia and was credited for inventing the post office letter box. He was a member of the Virginia Legislature from 1817 to 1828. Moving to the Florida Territory in 1828, he continued in politics, was president of the legislative council in 1838, a member of the constitutional convention in 1839 and served in the first session of the Florida House of Representatives in 1845. Florida became a state on March 3, 1845. On March 14, 1835, Governor Eaton appointed Brown as Adjutant General of the Florida Militia during the Second Seminole War. In 1834 he built Brown's Inn in Tallahassee, which had a name change several times over the years and in 1886, the hotel burnt to the ground. In 1848 as a Whig Party candidate, he was elected Governor of Florida, serving until 1853. He was the only Florida governor that was a member of the Whig Party. During his term, the legislature endorsed the building of a plank toll road from Jacksonville to Lake City, a steamship line was initiated on the St. Johns River, the public East Florida Seminary in Ocala was authorized, and the state's transportation system was advanced. On January 6, 1853, he signed the bill that provided public support to higher education. He made an effort to determine whether the Everglades should be drained to acquire more useable land. A Mason for more than 60 years, he served a long term as secretary in the Tallahassee lodge and compiled a book on Masonry. After leaving office, he lived in retirement until his death at age 81. He married Elizabeth Simpson and the couple had seven children.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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