William John BROWN, Congress, IN (1805-1857)

BROWN William John , a Representative from Indiana; born near Washington, Mason County, Ky., August 15, 1805; moved to Clermont County, Ohio, in 1808 with his parents, who settled near New Richmond; attended the common schools and Franklin Academy in Clermont County; moved to Rushville, Rush County, Ind., in 1821; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1826 and commenced practice in Rushville; member of the State house of representatives 1829-1832; prosecuting attorney 1831-1835; secretary of state of Indiana 1836-1840; moved to Indianapolis, Ind., in 1837; again a member of the State house of representatives 1841-1843; elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-eighth Congress (March 4, 1843-March 3, 1845); appointed Second Assistant Postmaster General by President Polk and served from 1845 until 1849; elected to the Thirty-first Congress (March 4, 1849-March 3, 1851); unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1850; chief editor of the Indianapolis Sentinel 1850-1855; many times chairman of the Democratic State central committee of Indiana; appointed by President Pierce as special agent of the Post Office Department for Indiana and Illinois, which position he held from 1853 until his death near Indianapolis, Ind., March 18, 1857; interment in Crown Hill Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present