James Brown (New Brunswick politician)
Encyclopedia
James Brown was a Scottish
-born farmer, educator and politician in New Brunswick
. He represented Charlotte County
in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
from 1830 to 1850, from 1854 to 1856 and from 1857 to 1861.
, the son of James Brown and Janet Douglas, and was educated in Scotland. He immigrated to St. Andrews, New Brunswick
in 1810. He bought land at nearby Tower Hill in Charlotte County. Brown farmed and taught school. In 1817, he married Sarah Sharman. He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the provincial assembly in 1827. In 1838, he was named government supervisor for the road between Fredericton
and St. Andrews. Brown married Catherine Gillespie (née Cameron) in 1842 after the death of his first wife.
In 1844, Brown, with Sylvester Zobieski Earle
and John Gregory, was tasked with preparing a report describing the state of schools in the province. In 1854, he helped prepare another study which resulted in the creation of the University of New Brunswick
to replace King's College at Fredericton. Brown was defeated in the 1850 general election but was then named to the province's Legislative Council
. He resigned his seat on the council in 1854 and was elected to a seat in the legislative assembly. Brown served on the province's Executive Council as Surveyor General
and then was a member of the Board of Works. He resigned in 1856, was reelected in 1857 and again served as Surveyor General.
After Brown was defeated in 1861, he was named an emigrant agent and went to Britain to promote immigration to the province. Brown was opposed to Confederation
and ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the assembly in 1864. He died at his home at Tower Hill at the age of 79.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
-born farmer, educator and politician in New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
. He represented Charlotte County
Charlotte County, New Brunswick
Charlotte County is located in the southwestern portion of New Brunswick, Canada.In most of the county, fishing and aquaculture dominate the local economy, although the town of St. Andrews is a tourist mecca and St...
in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is located in Fredericton. It was established de jure when the colony was created in 1784, but only came in to session in 1786 following the first elections in late 1785. Until 1891, it was the lower house in a bicameral legislature when its upper house...
from 1830 to 1850, from 1854 to 1856 and from 1857 to 1861.
Biography
He was born near DundeeDundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, the son of James Brown and Janet Douglas, and was educated in Scotland. He immigrated to St. Andrews, New Brunswick
St. Andrews, New Brunswick
St. Andrews is a Canadian town in Charlotte County, New Brunswick.It is sometimes referred to in tourism marketing by its unofficial nickname "St. Andrews-by-the-sea".-Geography:St...
in 1810. He bought land at nearby Tower Hill in Charlotte County. Brown farmed and taught school. In 1817, he married Sarah Sharman. He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the provincial assembly in 1827. In 1838, he was named government supervisor for the road between Fredericton
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton is the capital of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, by virtue of the provincial parliament which sits there. An important cultural, artistic, and educational centre for the province, Fredericton is home to two universities and cultural institutions such as the Beaverbrook Art...
and St. Andrews. Brown married Catherine Gillespie (née Cameron) in 1842 after the death of his first wife.
In 1844, Brown, with Sylvester Zobieski Earle
Sylvester Zobieski Earle, Sr.
Sylvester Zobieski Earle, Sr. was a physician and political figure in New Brunswick. He represented King's County in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1843 to 1850 and from 1856 to 1857....
and John Gregory, was tasked with preparing a report describing the state of schools in the province. In 1854, he helped prepare another study which resulted in the creation of the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
to replace King's College at Fredericton. Brown was defeated in the 1850 general election but was then named to the province's Legislative Council
Legislative Council of New Brunswick
The Legislative Council of New Brunswick was the upper house of the government of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, between 1785 and 1891. Members were appointed by the New Brunswick lieutenant governor.-External links:*...
. He resigned his seat on the council in 1854 and was elected to a seat in the legislative assembly. Brown served on the province's Executive Council as Surveyor General
Department of Natural Resources (New Brunswick)
The Department of Natural Resources is a department in the Government of New Brunswick, Canada. It is responsible for management of the Province's forests including timber utilization, trail management, insect and disease protection including spruce budworm and gypsy moth, fire protection,...
and then was a member of the Board of Works. He resigned in 1856, was reelected in 1857 and again served as Surveyor General.
After Brown was defeated in 1861, he was named an emigrant agent and went to Britain to promote immigration to the province. Brown was opposed to Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
and ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the assembly in 1864. He died at his home at Tower Hill at the age of 79.