John Nicholas Brown II; Financier, Yachtsman, Philanthropist, Politician and the United States Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Son of John Nicholas Brown I (1861-1900) and Natalie Dresser Brown (1869-1950); great-grandson of Nicholas Brown II, the namesake patron of Brown University.
Nicknamed the "richest baby on Earth" when he, at the young age of 1, inherited close to $100 million from his dead father's will, he grew up at the family's 'Harbor Court' estate in Newport, Rhode Island. He graduated from St. George's School in 1918 and from Harvard University in 1928. In 1928, he succeeded his father as an hereditary member of the Rhode Island Society of Cincinnati. In the wake of the Wall Street Crash of 1929, Brown took control of his family's real estate and textiles businesses, beginning new enterprises and streamlining others. In 1930 he married the boldly outspoken Anne S. Kinsolving ~ an avid collector of military memorabilia. During World War II, Brown advanced to the rank of lieutenant colonel, later working with the U.S. Army in Europe as Special Cultural Advisor for Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives (MFAA), helping to return art treasures stolen by the Nazis to their rightful owners. From 1946 to 1949 he was Assistant Secretary of the Navy, serving under the Truman administration. An avid yachtsman, he served as commodore of the New York Yacht Club from 1952 to 1954. In 1949, Brown had especially commissioned a sailing yacht called 'Bolero' ~ a 73 foot Bermudan yawl designed by Olin Stephens ~ which won the 635 mile Bermuda race in 1950, 1954 & 1956 setting a new record unbeaten until 1974. In 1979, John Nicholas Brown had a heart attack on-board his yacht while celebrating his son John C. Brown's 45th birthday. He died hours later; with the funeral procession being held at the Brown family plot at the North Burial Ground in Providence, Rhode Island. (bio by Tyler Hughes)
Nicknamed the "richest baby on Earth" when he, at the young age of 1, inherited close to $100 million from his dead father's will, he grew up at the family's 'Harbor Court' estate in Newport, Rhode Island. He graduated from St. George's School in 1918 and from Harvard University in 1928. In 1928, he succeeded his father as an hereditary member of the Rhode Island Society of Cincinnati. In the wake of the Wall Street Crash of 1929, Brown took control of his family's real estate and textiles businesses, beginning new enterprises and streamlining others. In 1930 he married the boldly outspoken Anne S. Kinsolving ~ an avid collector of military memorabilia. During World War II, Brown advanced to the rank of lieutenant colonel, later working with the U.S. Army in Europe as Special Cultural Advisor for Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives (MFAA), helping to return art treasures stolen by the Nazis to their rightful owners. From 1946 to 1949 he was Assistant Secretary of the Navy, serving under the Truman administration. An avid yachtsman, he served as commodore of the New York Yacht Club from 1952 to 1954. In 1949, Brown had especially commissioned a sailing yacht called 'Bolero' ~ a 73 foot Bermudan yawl designed by Olin Stephens ~ which won the 635 mile Bermuda race in 1950, 1954 & 1956 setting a new record unbeaten until 1974. In 1979, John Nicholas Brown had a heart attack on-board his yacht while celebrating his son John C. Brown's 45th birthday. He died hours later; with the funeral procession being held at the Brown family plot at the North Burial Ground in Providence, Rhode Island. (bio by Tyler Hughes)
John Nicholas Brown II; Financier, Yachtsman, Philanthropist, Politician and the United States Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Son of John Nicholas Brown I (1861-1900) and Natalie Dresser Brown (1869-1950); great-grandson of Nicholas Brown II, the namesake patron of Brown University.
Nicknamed the "richest baby on Earth" when he, at the young age of 1, inherited close to $100 million from his dead father's will, he grew up at the family's 'Harbor Court' estate in Newport, Rhode Island. He graduated from St. George's School in 1918 and from Harvard University in 1928. In 1928, he succeeded his father as an hereditary member of the Rhode Island Society of Cincinnati. In the wake of the Wall Street Crash of 1929, Brown took control of his family's real estate and textiles businesses, beginning new enterprises and streamlining others. In 1930 he married the boldly outspoken Anne S. Kinsolving ~ an avid collector of military memorabilia. During World War II, Brown advanced to the rank of lieutenant colonel, later working with the U.S. Army in Europe as Special Cultural Advisor for Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives (MFAA), helping to return art treasures stolen by the Nazis to their rightful owners. From 1946 to 1949 he was Assistant Secretary of the Navy, serving under the Truman administration. An avid yachtsman, he served as commodore of the New York Yacht Club from 1952 to 1954. In 1949, Brown had especially commissioned a sailing yacht called 'Bolero' ~ a 73 foot Bermudan yawl designed by Olin Stephens ~ which won the 635 mile Bermuda race in 1950, 1954 & 1956 setting a new record unbeaten until 1974. In 1979, John Nicholas Brown had a heart attack on-board his yacht while celebrating his son John C. Brown's 45th birthday. He died hours later; with the funeral procession being held at the Brown family plot at the North Burial Ground in Providence, Rhode Island. (bio by Tyler Hughes)
Nicknamed the "richest baby on Earth" when he, at the young age of 1, inherited close to $100 million from his dead father's will, he grew up at the family's 'Harbor Court' estate in Newport, Rhode Island. He graduated from St. George's School in 1918 and from Harvard University in 1928. In 1928, he succeeded his father as an hereditary member of the Rhode Island Society of Cincinnati. In the wake of the Wall Street Crash of 1929, Brown took control of his family's real estate and textiles businesses, beginning new enterprises and streamlining others. In 1930 he married the boldly outspoken Anne S. Kinsolving ~ an avid collector of military memorabilia. During World War II, Brown advanced to the rank of lieutenant colonel, later working with the U.S. Army in Europe as Special Cultural Advisor for Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives (MFAA), helping to return art treasures stolen by the Nazis to their rightful owners. From 1946 to 1949 he was Assistant Secretary of the Navy, serving under the Truman administration. An avid yachtsman, he served as commodore of the New York Yacht Club from 1952 to 1954. In 1949, Brown had especially commissioned a sailing yacht called 'Bolero' ~ a 73 foot Bermudan yawl designed by Olin Stephens ~ which won the 635 mile Bermuda race in 1950, 1954 & 1956 setting a new record unbeaten until 1974. In 1979, John Nicholas Brown had a heart attack on-board his yacht while celebrating his son John C. Brown's 45th birthday. He died hours later; with the funeral procession being held at the Brown family plot at the North Burial Ground in Providence, Rhode Island. (bio by Tyler Hughes)
Inscription
Scholar, sailor, humanist who brought art into life and made of life an art.
Gravesite Details
Died aboard Malaguena, Chesapeake Bay
Family Members
Children
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