Joseph Mackey Brown
Encyclopedia
Joseph Mackey Brown was an American
politician and alleged to be one of the ringleaders in the lynching of Leo Frank
. He served two non-consecutive terms as the 59th Governor of Georgia, the first from 1909 to 1911 and the second from 1912 to 1913.
and was the son of Georgia's Civil War Governor Joseph E. Brown
. The family nickname of the younger Brown was "Little Joe Brown".
After graduating from Oglethorpe University
in 1872 (where he joined Chi Phi
Fraternity), Brown attended Harvard University
for a time to study law. He continued his studies at his brother's Georgia law practice and passed the bar in 1873; however, he never practiced law due to failing eyesight. He continued his studies at an Atlanta, Georgia
business college and became a clerk with the Western and Atlantic Railroad
. During his career at the railroad he rose to the position of traffic manager for the company, and he married Cora Annie McCord.
. That appointment was rescinded in 1907 when the new Governor, Hoke Smith, removed Brown over disagreements about passenger fares.
Brown exacted revenge by running against Smith in the 1908 gubernatorial election and winning. Smith again won the governorship in the election of 1910 by beating Brown in the democratic primary and in the general election in which Brown ran as an independent. Smith left before the end of his second term to assume the United States Senate
seat that became vacant upon the death of Alexander S. Clay
, and Brown ran unopposed to become Governor again for the rest of Smith's original term.
Brown faced Smith once again in the 1914 election for the Senate seat previously filled by Smith. Smith won that election.
and is buried in the historic Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia
.
Anti-Semitism
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and alleged to be one of the ringleaders in the lynching of Leo Frank
Leo Frank
Leo Max Frank was a Jewish-American factory superintendent whose hanging in 1915 by a lynch mob of prominent citizens in Marietta, Georgia drew attention to antisemitism in the United States....
. He served two non-consecutive terms as the 59th Governor of Georgia, the first from 1909 to 1911 and the second from 1912 to 1913.
Early life
Brown was born in Canton, GeorgiaCanton, Georgia
Canton is a city in and the county seat of Cherokee County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 22,958.-Geography:Canton is located at ....
and was the son of Georgia's Civil War Governor Joseph E. Brown
Joseph E. Brown
Joseph Emerson Brown , often referred to as Joe Brown, was the 42nd Governor of Georgia from 1857 to 1865, and a U.S. Senator from 1880 to 1891...
. The family nickname of the younger Brown was "Little Joe Brown".
After graduating from Oglethorpe University
Oglethorpe University
Oglethorpe University is a private liberal arts college in Brookhaven, Georgia, an inner suburb of Atlanta. It was chartered in 1835 and named after James Edward Oglethorpe, the state's founder.-History:...
in 1872 (where he joined Chi Phi
Chi Phi
The Chi Phi ' Fraternity is an American College Social Fraternity that was established as the result of the merger of three separate organizations that were each known as Chi Phi. The oldest active organization that took part in the union was originally founded in 1824 at Princeton...
Fraternity), Brown attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
for a time to study law. He continued his studies at his brother's Georgia law practice and passed the bar in 1873; however, he never practiced law due to failing eyesight. He continued his studies at an Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
business college and became a clerk with the Western and Atlantic Railroad
Western and Atlantic Railroad
The Western and Atlantic Railroad of the State of Georgia' is a historic railroad that operated in the southeastern United States from Atlanta, Georgia to Chattanooga, Tennessee....
. During his career at the railroad he rose to the position of traffic manager for the company, and he married Cora Annie McCord.
Career
In 1904, Brown was appointed to the Georgia State Railroad Commission by then-Governor Joseph M. TerrellJoseph M. Terrell
Joseph Meriwether Terrell was a United States Senator and the 57th Governor of Georgia. Born in Greenville, he attended the common schools, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1882, commencing practice in Greenville....
. That appointment was rescinded in 1907 when the new Governor, Hoke Smith, removed Brown over disagreements about passenger fares.
Brown exacted revenge by running against Smith in the 1908 gubernatorial election and winning. Smith again won the governorship in the election of 1910 by beating Brown in the democratic primary and in the general election in which Brown ran as an independent. Smith left before the end of his second term to assume the United States Senate
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...
seat that became vacant upon the death of Alexander S. Clay
Alexander S. Clay
Alexander Stephens Clay was a United States Senator from Georgia.Clay was born in Powder Springs, Georgia, and graduated from Hiwassee College in Tennessee in 1875. He was admitted to the bar in 1877 and commenced practice in Marietta, Georgia...
, and Brown ran unopposed to become Governor again for the rest of Smith's original term.
Brown faced Smith once again in the 1914 election for the Senate seat previously filled by Smith. Smith won that election.
- Authored two books, The Mountain Campaigns in Georgia (1886) and Astyanax (1907)
- Served as director and vice president of the First National Bank of Marietta
- Owned and operated Cherokee Mills in Marietta
- Since his death, has been implicated as one of the ringleaders in the lynching of Leo FrankLeo FrankLeo Max Frank was a Jewish-American factory superintendent whose hanging in 1915 by a lynch mob of prominent citizens in Marietta, Georgia drew attention to antisemitism in the United States....
.
Death
Brown died in 1932 in Marietta, GeorgiaMarietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
and is buried in the historic Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
External links
- The New Georgia Encyclopedia entry for Joseph M. Brown
- This Day in Georgia History:March 3, Ed Jackson and Charly Pou, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, The University of Georgia
- Portrait of Joseph M. Brown
- Georgia Governor's Gravesites Field Guide (1776-2003)
Anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...