Peter Campbell Brown
Encyclopedia
Peter Campbell Brown was a Corporation Counsel
for New York City and a Justice Department official.
Brown was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Peter Paul Brown and Ellen Campbell, and grew up in Bay Ridge. He received an A.B.
from Fordham University
in 1935 and LL.B. from Fordham in 1938. In 1951, he received a doctorate
in law from St. Bonaventure University
. After graduating from Fordham in 1938, Brown practiced law in Brooklyn until 1941. As an Army officer in World War II, he fought in the Battle of the Bulge
and formed a close friendship with Robert F. Wagner, Jr.
, who later became godfather to one of his children. In 1946, Brown was an assistant United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York. He served as first assistant in the criminal division of the Department of Justice in 1947-1948, and special assistant to the United States Attorney General in 1949-1950. In 1950, he was appointed to the Subversive Activities Control Board
by President Harry S. Truman
. He served as the Board's Chairman in 1952 and 1953.
After resigning from the Subversive Activities Control Board, Peter Campbell Brown joined the administration of New York City mayor Robert F. Wagner, Jr.
as Commissioner of Investigations in 1954-1955. He was appointed Corporation Counsel
in 1955 and held that post until 1958. Brown returned to the private sector in 1958, practicing civil, criminal and corporate law in New York City. In 1978, he began practicing on his own. Over the years, his clients included Vince Lombardi
, Sugar Ray Robinson
and other sports figures.
Peter Campbell Brown was married to Joan Gallagher for 51 years. They had 5 children.
Corporation Counsel
The Corporation Counsel is the title given to the chief legal officer in some municipal and county jurisdictions, who handles civil claims against the city, including negotiating settlements and defending the city when it is sued. Most corporation counsels do not prosecute criminal cases, though...
for New York City and a Justice Department official.
Brown was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Peter Paul Brown and Ellen Campbell, and grew up in Bay Ridge. He received an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
in 1935 and LL.B. from Fordham in 1938. In 1951, he received a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in law from St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University is a private, Franciscan Catholic university, located in Allegany, Cattaraugus County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2,400 undergraduate and graduate students....
. After graduating from Fordham in 1938, Brown practiced law in Brooklyn until 1941. As an Army officer in World War II, he fought in the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
and formed a close friendship with Robert F. Wagner, Jr.
Robert F. Wagner, Jr.
Robert Ferdinand Wagner II, usually known as Robert F. Wagner, Jr. served three terms as the mayor of New York City, from 1954 through 1965.-Biography:...
, who later became godfather to one of his children. In 1946, Brown was an assistant United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York. He served as first assistant in the criminal division of the Department of Justice in 1947-1948, and special assistant to the United States Attorney General in 1949-1950. In 1950, he was appointed to the Subversive Activities Control Board
Subversive Activities Control Board
The Subversive Activities Control Board was a United States government committee to investigate Communist infiltration of American society during the 1950s Red Scare....
by President Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
. He served as the Board's Chairman in 1952 and 1953.
After resigning from the Subversive Activities Control Board, Peter Campbell Brown joined the administration of New York City mayor Robert F. Wagner, Jr.
Robert F. Wagner, Jr.
Robert Ferdinand Wagner II, usually known as Robert F. Wagner, Jr. served three terms as the mayor of New York City, from 1954 through 1965.-Biography:...
as Commissioner of Investigations in 1954-1955. He was appointed Corporation Counsel
Corporation Counsel
The Corporation Counsel is the title given to the chief legal officer in some municipal and county jurisdictions, who handles civil claims against the city, including negotiating settlements and defending the city when it is sued. Most corporation counsels do not prosecute criminal cases, though...
in 1955 and held that post until 1958. Brown returned to the private sector in 1958, practicing civil, criminal and corporate law in New York City. In 1978, he began practicing on his own. Over the years, his clients included Vince Lombardi
Vince Lombardi
Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi was an American football coach. He is best known as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s, where he led the team to three straight league championships and five in seven years, including winning the first two Super Bowls following the 1966 and...
, Sugar Ray Robinson
Sugar Ray Robinson
Sugar Ray Robinson was an African-American professional boxer. Frequently cited as the greatest boxer of all time, Robinson's performances in the welterweight and middleweight divisions prompted sportswriters to create "pound for pound" rankings, where they compared fighters regardless of weight...
and other sports figures.
Peter Campbell Brown was married to Joan Gallagher for 51 years. They had 5 children.