Bedford Brown
Encyclopedia
Bedford Brown was a Democratic United States Senator
from the State of North Carolina
between 1829 and 1840.
Bedford Brown was born in what now is Locust Hill Township, Caswell County
, North Carolina. His parents were Jethro Brown and Lucy Williamson Brown. After attending the University of North Carolina for one year, Brown was elected to the North Carolina House of Commons. In 1828, upon the death of Bartlett Yancey, Jr., Brown was chosen in a special election to replace Yancey in the North Carolina Senate
. Like Bartlett Yancey, Jr., before him, Brown was elected Speaker of the North Carolina Senate.
In 1829, he was elected as a Jacksonian (the party that would become the Democratic Party) to succeed John Branch
as a United States Senator from North Carolina. In the Senate, he chaired several committees, including the Agriculture Committee
. Brown resigned his seat in 1840 due to a dispute with the state legislature. He was elected to the state Senate again in 1842, before spending some years out of the state.
Leading up to the Civil War, Brown, a state senator again from 1858 to 1860, counselled in favor of North Carolina's remaining in the Union. However, after President Lincoln requested troops from North Carolina to serve in the Union Army, Brown, along with most of his colleagues, supported secession.
In 1868 Brown, still a Democrat, was again elected to the North Carolina Senate. However, the Reconstruction Republicans controlled the North Carolina Legislature and refused to seat Brown. He was replaced by Republican John W. Stephens
. For more on John W. Stephens, including his murder in Yanceyville, North Carolina, by the Ku Klux Klan
and the resulting Kirk-Holden war
, go to the Caswell County Historical Association.
On July 13, 1816, Brown married Mary Lumpkin Glenn. They had seven children: William Livingston, Bedford, Jr., Wilson Glenn, Isabella, Virginia, Laura, and Rosalie. Brown was buried on the grounds at Rose Hill just outside Yanceyville, North Carolina
.
The accompanying photograph (carte-de-viste) by famous Civil War photographer Mathew Brady
probably was made when Bedford Brown was in Washington, D.C., as commissioner seeking readmission of North Carolina into the Union after the Civil War. As a pre-war Unionist, Brown was one of only a few Southern politicians for whom Brady had enough sympathy to grant the favor of a sitting. Note that images of Senator Bedford Brown often are confused with those of his son, Dr. Bedford Brown, M.D. Even the Library of Congress uses an incorrect photograph in its Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from the State of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
between 1829 and 1840.
Bedford Brown was born in what now is Locust Hill Township, Caswell County
Caswell County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 23,501 people, 8,670 households, and 6,398 families residing in the county. The population density was 55 people per square mile . There were 9,601 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...
, North Carolina. His parents were Jethro Brown and Lucy Williamson Brown. After attending the University of North Carolina for one year, Brown was elected to the North Carolina House of Commons. In 1828, upon the death of Bartlett Yancey, Jr., Brown was chosen in a special election to replace Yancey in the North Carolina Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
. Like Bartlett Yancey, Jr., before him, Brown was elected Speaker of the North Carolina Senate.
In 1829, he was elected as a Jacksonian (the party that would become the Democratic Party) to succeed John Branch
John Branch
John Branch, Jr. served as U.S. Senator, Secretary of the Navy, the 19th Governor of the state of North Carolina, and was the sixth and last territorial governor of Florida....
as a United States Senator from North Carolina. In the Senate, he chaired several committees, including the Agriculture Committee
United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
The Committee of Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry is a committee of the United States Senate empowered with legislative oversight of all matters relating to the nation's agriculture industry, farming programs, forestry and logging, and legislation relating to nutrition and...
. Brown resigned his seat in 1840 due to a dispute with the state legislature. He was elected to the state Senate again in 1842, before spending some years out of the state.
Leading up to the Civil War, Brown, a state senator again from 1858 to 1860, counselled in favor of North Carolina's remaining in the Union. However, after President Lincoln requested troops from North Carolina to serve in the Union Army, Brown, along with most of his colleagues, supported secession.
In 1868 Brown, still a Democrat, was again elected to the North Carolina Senate. However, the Reconstruction Republicans controlled the North Carolina Legislature and refused to seat Brown. He was replaced by Republican John W. Stephens
John W. Stephens
John W. Stephens was a state senator from North Carolina. He was assassinated by the Ku Klux Klan on May 21, 1870.-Personal life and early career:...
. For more on John W. Stephens, including his murder in Yanceyville, North Carolina, by the Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
and the resulting Kirk-Holden war
Kirk-Holden war
The Kirk-Holden War was a struggle against the Ku Klux Klan in the state of North Carolina in 1870. The Klan was preventing recently freed slaves from exercising their right to vote by intimidating them. Governor William W...
, go to the Caswell County Historical Association.
On July 13, 1816, Brown married Mary Lumpkin Glenn. They had seven children: William Livingston, Bedford, Jr., Wilson Glenn, Isabella, Virginia, Laura, and Rosalie. Brown was buried on the grounds at Rose Hill just outside Yanceyville, North Carolina
Yanceyville, North Carolina
Yanceyville, first incorporated in 1833, is the county seat of Caswell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,091 at the 2000 census. It has been the county seat since 1792 . The original Caswell County Courthouse has been renovated and provides offices for county departments...
.
The accompanying photograph (carte-de-viste) by famous Civil War photographer Mathew Brady
Mathew Brady
Mathew B. Brady was one of the most celebrated 19th century American photographers, best known for his portraits of celebrities and his documentation of the American Civil War...
probably was made when Bedford Brown was in Washington, D.C., as commissioner seeking readmission of North Carolina into the Union after the Civil War. As a pre-war Unionist, Brown was one of only a few Southern politicians for whom Brady had enough sympathy to grant the favor of a sitting. Note that images of Senator Bedford Brown often are confused with those of his son, Dr. Bedford Brown, M.D. Even the Library of Congress uses an incorrect photograph in its Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.