Robert Brown (Pennsylvania politician)

Robert Brown (December 25, 1744 – February 26, 1823) was a United States representative from Pennsylvania. Brown was born in Weaversville in East Allen Township, Pennsylvania, he attended the common schools and was apprenticed to the blacksmith trade.

Career

American Revolutionary War

At the beginning of the American Revolutionary War, he was commissioned first lieutenant in the Pennsylvania "Flying Camp". On September 10, 1776, he was captured at the surrender of Fort Washington on November 16, 1776, and worked at the blacksmith trade while a prisoner. He was later put aboard the prison ship Judith and was subsequently imprisoned in New York City's Old City Hall. He was paroled on board ship December 10, 1777.

Pennsylvania Senate and Congress

Brown was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1783 to 1787, and was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Fifth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Samuel Sitgreaves. He was reelected to the Sixth and to seven succeeding Congresses, serving from December 4, 1798 to March 3, 1815. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1814, and retired from public life and lived on his farm.

Death

In 1823, Brown died near the Weaversville section of present-day East Allen Township, Pennsylvania. He is buried in Horner's Cemetery located beside Northampton God's Missionary Church in East Allen Township in Northampton County, Pennsylvania.

References

• United States Congress. "Robert Brown (id: B000942)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by John Chapman and Samuel Sitgreaves	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district 1798–1803 1798–1799 alongside: John Chapman 1799–1801 alongside: Peter G. Muhlenberg 1801–1803 alongside: Isaac Van Horne	Succeeded by John Andre Hanna and David Bard
Preceded by Michael Leib	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district 1803–1813 1803–1805 alongside: Isaac Van Horne and Frederick Conrad 1805–1807 alongside: John Pugh and Frederick Conrad 1807–1809 alongside: John Pugh and William Milnor 1809–1811 alongside: William Milnor and John Ross 1811–1813 alongside: Jonathan Roberts and William Rodman	Succeeded by Jonathan Roberts and Roger Davis
Preceded by William Crawford	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district 1813–1815 alongside: Samuel D. Ingham	Succeeded by Samuel D. Ingham and John Ross