Robert Brown (December 25, 1744 – February 26, 1823) was a United States representative from Pennsylvania. Brown was born in Weaversville in East Allen Township, Pennsylvania, he attended the common schools and was apprenticed to the blacksmith trade.
Career
American Revolutionary War
At the beginning of the American Revolutionary War, he was commissioned first lieutenant in the Pennsylvania "Flying Camp". On September 10, 1776, he was captured at the surrender of Fort Washington on November 16, 1776, and worked at the blacksmith trade while a prisoner. He was later put aboard the prison ship Judith and was subsequently imprisoned in New York City's Old City Hall. He was paroled on board ship December 10, 1777.
Pennsylvania Senate and Congress
Brown was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1783 to 1787, and was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Fifth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Samuel Sitgreaves. He was reelected to the Sixth and to seven succeeding Congresses, serving from December 4, 1798 to March 3, 1815. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1814, and retired from public life and lived on his farm.
Death
In 1823, Brown died near the Weaversville section of present-day East Allen Township, Pennsylvania. He is buried in Horner's Cemetery located beside Northampton God's Missionary Church in East Allen Township in Northampton County, Pennsylvania.
References
- United States Congress. "Robert Brown (id: B000942)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byJohn Chapman and Samuel Sitgreaves |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district 1798–1803 1798–1799 alongside: John Chapman |
Succeeded byJohn Andre Hanna and David Bard |
| Preceded byMichael Leib | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district 1803–1813 1803–1805 alongside: Isaac Van Horne and Frederick Conrad |
Succeeded byJonathan Roberts and Roger Davis |
| Preceded byWilliam Crawford | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district 1813–1815 alongside: Samuel D. Ingham |
Succeeded bySamuel D. Ingham and John Ross |
- 1744 births
- 1823 deaths
- American Revolutionary War prisoners of war held by Great Britain
- Continental Army officers from Pennsylvania
- Democratic-Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania state senators
- Politicians from Northampton County, Pennsylvania
- 18th-century members of the United States House of Representatives
- 19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives