John W. Brown (New York politician)

Life

Born in Dundee, Scotland in the Kingdom of Great Britain, Brown immigrated to the United States in 1802 with his father, who settled in Newburgh, New York. He attended the public schools and later studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1818 and commenced practice in Newburgh. He was elected a justice of the peace in 1820.

Congress

Brown was elected as a Jacksonian to the 23rd and 24th United States Congresses, and served from March 4, 1833, to March 3, 1837. Afterwards he resumed the practice of law.

Later career

He was a justice of the New York Supreme Court (2nd District) from 1850 to 1865, and was ex officio a judge of the New York Court of Appeals in 1857 and 1865. In 1865, he ran on the Democratic ticket for the Court of Appeals but was defeated by Republican Ward Hunt.

Afterwards he again resumed the practice of law.

Family

Brown was the father of Charles F. Brown, who served on the New York Supreme Court.

Death

He was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Newburgh, New York.

References

Sources

• Political Graveyard
• The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (page 350; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
• Court of Appeals judges
• Sketches of Some of the Prominent Members of the Orange County Bar, by Walter case Anthony (1917)

References

1. (1897). "History of the Bench and Bar of New York". New York History Company.