Neill Smith Brown (1810-1886) - Find a Grave Memorial

Tennessee Governor. Educated at Jackson College, he taught school for several years, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1834 and moved to Texas, in 1835. In Texas he grew disillusioned with the lack of organization there and returned to Tennessee, to practice law. During the Seminole War of 1836, he served in the United States Army. After the war, he was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives. In 1847, he was elected as a Whig the Governor of Tennessee, serving until 1849. As governor he advocated the expansion of public education to ensure political republicanism and equality. Defected for a second term, President Zachary Taylor soon appointed him United States Minister to Russia, serving from 1850 to 1953. Returning to America, he was again a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives. After his term, he remained active in politics, supported the Confederacy during the Civil War and was a member of the Tennessee Constitutional Convention of 1870. He then returned to his law practice until his death at age 75.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith