Neill Smith Brown (April 18, 1810January 30, 1886) was an American politician and diplomat who served as the 12th governor of Tennessee from 1847 to 1849, and as the United States Minister to Russia from 1850 to 1853. He also served several terms in the Tennessee House of Representatives, and was Speaker of the House for the 1855–1857 term. A lifelong Whig, Brown campaigned to keep Tennessee in the Union in the years leading up to the Civil War. However, once the war began, he sided with the Confederacy.

Early life

Brown was born in Giles County, Tennessee, the son of Duncan and Margaret Smith Brown. His ancestors were Scots-Irish, and his grandfather, Angus Brown, was a veteran of the American Revolution. His father was an ardent Whig. Brown enrolled in the Manual Labor Academy in Spring Hill, Tennessee, and taught school in Giles County to pay his way. and campaigned for William Henry Harrison and Henry Clay in the presidential elections of 1840 and 1844, respectively. In 1843, Brown ran a competitive race against Democratic incumbent Aaron V. Brown (no relation) for the 6th District congressional seat, but was defeated. Brown attended the Constitutional Union Party convention in 1860, and helped nominate fellow Tennessean John Bell as the party's presidential candidate.

On April 18, 1861, following the attack on Fort Sumter in South Carolina, Brown and several other Whig leaders published a letter reaffirming their pro-Union stance. While they dismissed secession, "both as a constitutional right and as a remedy for existing evils," they nevertheless stated that Tennessee and other southern states were obliged to defend themselves should federal troops invade.

Although Brown was not elevated to elective office post-war, his was an influential voice. He served on committees and gave an inspiring, heart-felt speech at the June 1868 Democratic State Convention. Brown also attended the state constitutional convention of 1870, which composed the current Constitution of Tennessee. He also campaigned for his younger brother, John C. Brown, who served as governor of Tennessee from 1871 to 1875.

Brown died on January 30, 1886, and is interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee.

References

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  • National Governors Association
  • The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture
  • "Gov. Neill Smith Brown Papers, Tennessee State Library and Archives"