Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 1).djvu/438

tered parliament in 1852, and was opposed during his candidature by the well-known leader of the rebellion of 1837, William Lyon Mackenzie, who had returned from his exile two years before. Mr. Brown soon took rank as a powerful speaker, and such measures of reform as the abolition of the clergy reserves, state churchism, and seigniorial tenure, always found in him an able advocate, both in parlia- ment, through the columns of his pa- per, and on the lecture platform. He was called up- on to form a gov- ernment by Sir Edmund Head on 2 Aug., 1858, and the Brown-Dori- on administration came into exist- ence as the result. Before it was pos- sible for the mem- bers of his admin- istration to be re- elected, the house

of assembly passed

a vote of want of confidence, and the governor- general having refused to grant a dissolution, as desired by Mr. Brown, he and his colleagues at once resigned, after holding office for three days. On 30 June, 1864, he entered the coalition government, formed for the purpose of securing confederation, being leader of the reform section, then in a ma- jority in the house, as John A. Macdonald was leader of the conservatives of Ontario, and Mr. Cartier of the French Canadian conservatives. In the session of 1864 Mr. Brown had obtained a se- lect committee to inquire into and report upon such changes in the constitution as would satisfy the just expectations of the people of western Canada. The committee reported in favor of a federal system, such as was afterward established in 1869. On 21 Dec, 1865, he resigned, after the confederation scheme was arranged, though the imperial act was not passed, owing to his disappro- val of the policy of the government relative to a reciprocity treaty with the United States. He was a member of the Charlottetown union conference in 1864, and of that at Quebec the same year, and of the confederate council of British North Ameri- can colonies, for the negotiation of commercial treaties, which sat in Quebec in September, 1865. He went to England, as a delegate, on public busi- ness in 1865, and to Washington in 1874, in behalf of Canada and the empire, as joint plenipotentiary with Sir Edward Thornton, to negotiate with the United States a commercial treaty. In 1875 he declined the lieutenant-governorship of Ontario, as he had also declined the twice-offered honor of knighthood. He was called to the senate on 16 Dec, 1873, from which time he did not actively interfere in politics except through the columns of the " Globe." In 1862 he visited Scotland, and while there married Annie, the daughter of Thom- as Nelson, the well-known Edinburgh publisher. On 25 March, 1880, he was shot in the leg by a dis- charged employee, and though the woiind was not regarded as dangerous at the time, he died from its effects on 9 May following. Mr. Brown's tragic death was deeply regretted, even by those he had so persistently opposed politically, the statue erected to is memory in Queen's park, Toronto, which was unveiled 25 Nov., 1884, being purchased partly by their contributions. Though Mr. Brown was for years looked upon as the leader of the Reform party in Canada, and was always a power in poli- tics, he never secured an enthusiastic following in parliament or the steady allegiance of his col- leagues in office, the reason probably being that he was too uncompromising and required an unhesi- tating obedience, which his political associates were but rarely willing to concede. In 1882 was published " The Life and Speeches of the Hon. George Brown," by Alexander Mackenzie. — John Gordon, Canadian journalist, brother of George, b. in Alloa, Scotland, 16 Nov., 1827, was educated in Edinburgh and New York, coming to the latter city in November, 1838. In 1843 he removed to Toronto, and in 1844 became connected with the " Globe " newspaper. Subsequently he edited the Quebec " Gazette " for about a year, and in 1851 became actual editor of the " Globe," his brother, for many years before his death, devoting himself almost exclusively to the commercial de- partment of the paper, and to political matters not intimately connected therewith. After the death of his brother his formal elevation to the position of managing editor and president of the " Globe " association took place. A difference of opinion between Mr. Brown and the majority of the members of the association relative to the en- forced withdrawal of Alexander Mackenzie from the leadership of the Liberal party, the expediency and honorable character of which course was doubted by Mr. Brown, together with other disa- greements, led to his leaving the " Globe " in 1882. In May, 1883, he was appointed registrar of the surrogate court of Toronto.

BROWN, Phoebe Hinsdale, poet, b. in Ca- naan, N. Y., in 1783; d. in Henry, 111., 10 Oct., 1861. She married Timothy II. Brown. In 1824 she contributed to Dr. Asahel Nettleton's " Village Hymns " the popular lyric, " I Love to steal Awhile Away," and several of her hymns are in Cleveland's " Lyra Sacra Americana." One of her sons became a missionary in Japan.

BROWN, Rawdon, English antiquarian, b. in 1803;, died in Venice, Italy, 25 Aug., 1883. He spent many years in searching the Venetian ar- chives for material illustrating English history, and in the course of his investigations threw some light on early American history. During his labors he sent no less than 126 volumes of manu- script copies to the public record office. Much of this material has been published by the English government in the rolls series, under the title, "Calendar of State Papers in the Archives of Venice." Six volumes have been issued (1864-'86).

BROWN, Richard, Cherokee chief, b. in 1773; d. in Tennessee, 26 Jan., 1818. During the Creek war he led the Cherokees, under Jackson, with the rank of colonel, and was present at every battle, being severely wounded in the action at Horseshoe, Ala., in 1814. He was a personal friend of Gen. Jackson, and was regarded by his countrymen as a leader both in war and peace. At the time of his death he was one of a delegation sent to Washing- ton respecting a treaty with the United States.

BROWN, Robert, soldier, b. in Northampton CO., Pa., in 1745 ; died there, 26 Feb., 1823. He was appointed at the beginning of the revolution an officer in the Pennsylvania '* flying camp," was made prisoner on Long Island, and, being permitted to work at his trade, that of a blacksmith, distrib- uted the proceeds of his wages among his fellow-prisoners. He was made a brigadier-general of the state militia, filled several civil stations, and was a member of the state senate for some time. In 1798