Nicholas Brown, Jr.

Nicholas Brown, Jr.

Nicholas Brown, Jr., painted by Chester Harding, 1836
Born April 4, 1769
Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Died September 27, 1841
Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Resting place North Burial Ground
Providence, Rhode Island
Residence Providence, Rhode Island
Nationality American
Alma mater Brown University (1786)
Occupation Legislator
Philanthropist
Children Nicholas Brown III
Parent(s) Nicholas Brown I

Nicholas Brown, Jr. (April 4, 1769 – September 27, 1841) was a Providence, Rhode Island businessman, and philanthropist who was the namesake of Brown University.

Biography

Nicholas Brown, Jr. was the son of Nicholas Brown, Sr., a merchant and co-founder of Brown University (which was then called College of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations). He was the nephew of John Brown and Moses Brown and a descendant of the renowned English pilgrim and Baptist minister Chad Brown. Both Nicholas Brown, Jr. and his father were members of and large donors to the First Baptist Church in America. Nicholas Brown, Jr. graduated from the College of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in 1786. Brown created the company of Brown & Ives and served in the state legislature as a Federalist. After inheriting his father's estate in 1791, Brown became such a great benefactor to the school that it was renamed Brown University for him in 1804 when he donated $5,000 to the college. His total gifts to the college totaled over $150,000. Brown also co-founded the Providence Athenaeum and was active in various Baptist and literary causes. He was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1813.[1] When Brown died in 1841 he left a $30,000 bequest to form a mental hospital, which eventually became known as Butler Hospital.[2][3]

Brown is interred in North Burial Ground in Providence.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ American Antiquarian Society Members Directory
  2. ↑ http://today.brown.edu/articles/2009/12/name-letter
  3. ↑ The History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations: Biographical, Volume 6, by the American Historical Society, Inc., 1920. Pages 188 - 191 http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rigenweb/article3.html
  4. ↑ Rogak, Lisa (2004). Stones and Bones of New England: A Guide to Unusual, Historic, and Otherwise Notable Cemeteries. Globe Pequot. p. 159.
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