Benjamin Gratz Brown

Benjamin Gratz Brown ( born May 28, 1826 in Lexington, Kentucky, † December 13, 1885 in Kirkwood, Missouri ) was an American politician and from 1871 to 1873 the 20th Governor of Missouri.

Early years

Benjamin Brown attended the Transylvania University until 1845 and then until 1847 the Yale University. Subsequently, he studied until 1849 at the Louisville Law School Law. Then he held his new job in St. Louis, Missouri.

Political rise

Between 1852 and 1858, Brown was a deputy in the House of Representatives from Missouri. At the same time, he worked in the newspaper business. Between 1854 and 1865 he published the newspaper " Missouri Democrat " out. In 1857 he applied unsuccessfully for the post of governor of Missouri. As an opponent of slavery was Brown a member of the Republican Party, but from whom he parted again later. Thereafter he joined the short-lived Liberal Republican Party. beginning of the civil War, he served as an officer in the Union Army. between 1863 and 1867 he represented his state in the U.S. Senate. , where he was an opponent of the reconstruction policy of the new President Andrew Johnson. on 8 August 1870 he was elected governor of his state.

Governor of Missouri

Benjamin Brown took up his new position on January 4, 1871. During his tenure, some co-financed by the state railway companies went bankrupt. At the University of Missouri women were allowed in all areas. In addition, both a medical and a law school was founded at the university in those years. 1872 Brown ran for his party on the side of Horace Greeley unsuccessfully for the office of U.S. Vice President.

Further CV

After the end of his two-year term in January 1873, Brown retired from politics and worked as a lawyer. He died in December 1885., With his wife Mary Ginn he had seven children.