Thomas Brown (Florida politician)

Thomas Brown ( born October 25, 1785 Westmoreland County, Virginia; † August 24, 1867 in Tallahassee, Florida ) was an American politician and from 1849 to 1853 the second governor of Florida.

Early years and political rise

Thomas Brown grew up in Westmoreland County, the home of George Washington and James Monroe, on. He participated in the staff of General John P. Hungerford at the British -American War of 1812. Subsequently, he worked in the mailroom of Richmond. On this occasion he invented the mailbox.

Since 1817, Brown was politically active in Virginia. In that year he was elected to the House of Representatives of Virginia, where he remained until 1828. In 1828 he moved to Florida, where he also was active politically. At the time, Florida had not yet received the status of a federal state. It was a territory that was, however, anxious to be included as soon as possible in the United States. In 1838, Brown was president of the Territorial House of Representatives. A year later he was one of the delegates, who drew up a new constitution for Florida. After Florida was officially became a state on March 3, 1845, the Constitution was in force, was Brown MP in the first House of Representatives from Florida.

Governor of Florida

For the upcoming 1849 gubernatorial election, Brown was nominated by the Whig Party as a candidate. After successful election, he could begin his four-year term as the second Governor of Florida on October 1, 1849. During this time, he campaigned for the improvement of the infrastructure of the country. This also included the improvement of the streets and canals of the State. He also promoted the development and expansion of the school system. He also hired considerations, the Everglades dry out in order to gain farmland. However, this was not realized.

Another Journey

Due to a constitutional clause Brown could not be re-elected in 1853 directly. Therefore, he resigned on October 3, 1853 from the office. He was the only Whig governor in Florida history. After he retired from public life. He spent his life in his home in Tallahassee, where he died in 1867. Thomas Brown was married to Elizabeth Simpson, with whom he had seven children.