Jacob J Brown

Jacob Brown

BROWN, Jacob, soldier, born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, 9 May, 1775; died in Washington, District of Columbia, 24 February, 1828. He was of Quaker ancestry and supported himself in early life by teaching school. From 1796 till 1798 he was engaged in surveying public lands in Ohio. In 1798 he settled in New York, where he conducted a school, studied law, and wrote political articles for the press. Later he purchased land in Jefferson County, New York, where he established himself and erected the first building in Brownsville, which has since become a flourishing village.



He became county judge, and, having had military experience as secretary to General Alexander Hamilton, he was in 1809 made colonel of the militia. In 1810 he was advanced to brigadier-general, and in 1812 received the appointment of commander of the frontier from Oswego to Lake St. Francis, a line 200 miles in extent. On 4 October, 1812, he repelled the attack of a superior British force on Ogdensburg, where his headquarters were located. He was then offered a regiment ill the regular army, but he declined. During the spring of 1813 he assumed command at Sackett's Harbor, where, on 29 May, 1813, he defeated an attack of a superior force.



On 19 July, 1813, he was appointed brigadier-general in the regular army, and on 24 January, 1814, placed in command of the army of Niagara with the rank of major general. In the campaign that followed the American forces were successful. General Brown took possession of Fort Erie, and on 5 July, 1814, gained a victory over General Riall at Chippewa. On 25 July he defeated a superior force under General Drummond at the battle of Lundy's Lane, where he received two severe wounds. In the sortie from Fort Erie on 17 September, 1814, he again defeated General Drummond. In connection with this engagement it was said of General Brown that "no enterprise that he undertook ever failed."



The City of New York voted him its freedom, he received the thanks of congress on 3 November, 1814, and was awarded a gold medal emblematical of his triumphs. At the close of the war he was retained in command of the northern division of the army, and on 10 March, 1821, became general-in-chief of the United States army. He was buried in the Congressional cemetery in Washington.



--His son, Nathan W. Brown, soldier, born in New York about 1819. He was appointed a major and paymaster in the United States army on 5 September, 1849, and served in Florida in 1849, in California in 1850-'5, in New York City in 1856-'7, in Florida and the west in 1858-'60, and was with Sturgis when he evacuated Fort Smith, Arkansas, in April, 1861. He then joined Emory's command at Fort Washita, and until 1869 was stationed at St. Louis in charge of the pay district of the Missouri. He was appointed deputy paymaster-general, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, on 4 April, 1864, and assistant paymaster-general, with the rank of colonel, on 28 July, 1866.



On 13 March, 1865, he was made brigadier-general by brevet for faithful and meritorious services during the war. On 8 June, 1880, he was appointed paymaster-general, with the rank of brigadier-general, and on 6 February, 1882, retired from service.



--His nephew, Thompson S. Brown, civil engineer, born in Brownville, New York, in 1807; died in Naples, Italy, 30 January, 1855, was graduated at the United States military academy in 1825, and was assistant professor of mathematics there for a few months, then served in the construction of Fort Adams, Rhode Island, and from 1828 till 1833 as aide to his uncle, and afterward in the construction of fortifications, light-houses, harbors, and roads. On 31 October, 1836, he resigned his commission, and was chief engineer of the Buffalo and Erie railroad in 1836-'8, of the western division of the New York and Erie railroad in 1838-'42, and of the whole road from 1842 till 1849. He then went to Russia as consulting engineer of the St. Petersburg and Moscow railroad.




BROWN, Jacob, soldier, born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, 9 May, 1775; died in Washington, District of Columbia, 24 February, 1828. He was of Quaker ancestry and supported himself in early life by teaching school. From 1796 till 1798 he was engaged in surveying public lands in Ohio. In 1798 he settled in New York, where he conducted a school, studied law, and wrote political articles for the press. Later he purchased land in Jefferson county, New York, where he established himself and erected the first building in Brownsville, which has since become a flourishing village. He became county judge, and, having had military experience as secretary to General Alexander Hamilton, he was in 1809 made colonel of the militia. In 1810 he was advanced to brigadier-general, and in 1812 received the appointment of commander of the frontier from Oswego to Lake St. Francis, a line 200 miles in extent. On 4 October, 1812, he repelled the attack of a superior British force on Ogdensburg, where his headquarters were located. He was then offered a regiment ill the regular army, but he declined. During the spring of 1813 he assumed command at Sackett's Harbor, where, on 29 May, 1813, he defeated an attack of a superior force.

On 19 July, 1813, he was appointed brigadier-general in the regular army, and on 24 January, 1814, placed in command of the army of Niagara with the rank of major general. In the campaign that followed the American forces were successful. General Brown took possession of Fort Erie, and on 5 July, 1814, gained a victory over General Riall at Chippewa. On 25 July he defeated a superior force under General Drummond at the battle of Lundy's Lane, where he received two severe wounds. In the sortie from Fort Erie on 17 September, 1814, he again defeated General Drummond. In connection with this engagement it was said of General Brown that " no enterprise that he undertook ever failed." The City of New York voted him its freedom, he received the thanks of congress on 3 November, 1814, and was awarded a gold medal emblematical of his triumphs. At the close of the war he was retained in command of the northern division of the army, and on 10 March, 1821, became general-in-chief of the United States army. He was buried in the Congressional cemetery in Washington.--His son, Nathan W., soldier, born in New York about 1819. He was appointed a major and paymaster in the United States army on 5 September, 1849, and served in Florida in 1849, in California in 1850-'5, in New York City in 1856-'7, in Florida and the west in 1858-'60, and was with Sturgis when he evacuated Fort Smith, Arkansas, in April, 1861. He then joined Emory's command at Fort Washita, and until 1869 was stationed at St. Louis in charge of the pay district of the Missouri. He was appointed deputy paymaster-general, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, on 4 April, 1864, and assistant paymaster-general, with the rank of colonel, on 28 July, 1866.

On 13 March, 1865. he was made brigadier-general by brevet for faithful and meritorious services during the war. On 8 June, 1880, he was appointed paymaster-general, with the rank of brigadier-general, and on 6 February, 1882, retired from service. --His nephew, Thompson S., civil engineer, born in Brownville, New York, in 1807; died in Naples, Italy, 30 January, 1855, was graduated at the United States military academy in 1825, and was assistant professor of mathematics there for a few months, then served in the construction of Fort Adams, Rhode Island, and from 1828 till 1833 as aide to his uncle, and afterward in the construction of fortifications, light-houses, harbors, and roads. On 31 October, 1836, he resigned his commission, and was chief engineer of the Buffalo and Erie railroad in 1836-'8, of the western division of the New York and Erie railroad in 1838-'42, and of the whole road from 1842 till 1849. He then went to Russia as consulting engineer of the St. Petersburg and Moscow railroad.

Jacob Jennings Brown

Jacob Brown

BROWN, Jacob, soldier, born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, 9 May, 1775; died in Washington, District of Columbia, 24 February, 1828. He was of Quaker ancestry and supported himself in early life by teaching school. From 1796 till 1798 he was engaged in surveying public lands in Ohio. In 1798 he settled in New York, where he conducted a school, studied law, and wrote political articles for the press. Later he purchased land in Jefferson County, New York, where he established himself and erected the first building in Brownsville, which has since become a flourishing village.



He became county judge, and, having had military experience as secretary to General Alexander Hamilton, he was in 1809 made colonel of the militia. In 1810 he was advanced to brigadier-general, and in 1812 received the appointment of commander of the frontier from Oswego to Lake St. Francis, a line 200 miles in extent. On 4 October, 1812, he repelled the attack of a superior British force on Ogdensburg, where his headquarters were located. He was then offered a regiment ill the regular army, but he declined. During the spring of 1813 he assumed command at Sackett's Harbor, where, on 29 May, 1813, he defeated an attack of a superior force.



On 19 July, 1813, he was appointed brigadier-general in the regular army, and on 24 January, 1814, placed in command of the army of Niagara with the rank of major general. In the campaign that followed the American forces were successful. General Brown took possession of Fort Erie, and on 5 July, 1814, gained a victory over General Riall at Chippewa. On 25 July he defeated a superior force under General Drummond at the battle of Lundy's Lane, where he received two severe wounds. In the sortie from Fort Erie on 17 September, 1814, he again defeated General Drummond. In connection with this engagement it was said of General Brown that "no enterprise that he undertook ever failed."



The City of New York voted him its freedom, he received the thanks of congress on 3 November, 1814, and was awarded a gold medal emblematical of his triumphs. At the close of the war he was retained in command of the northern division of the army, and on 10 March, 1821, became general-in-chief of the United States army. He was buried in the Congressional cemetery in Washington.



--His son, Nathan W. Brown, soldier, born in New York about 1819. He was appointed a major and paymaster in the United States army on 5 September, 1849, and served in Florida in 1849, in California in 1850-'5, in New York City in 1856-'7, in Florida and the west in 1858-'60, and was with Sturgis when he evacuated Fort Smith, Arkansas, in April, 1861. He then joined Emory's command at Fort Washita, and until 1869 was stationed at St. Louis in charge of the pay district of the Missouri. He was appointed deputy paymaster-general, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, on 4 April, 1864, and assistant paymaster-general, with the rank of colonel, on 28 July, 1866.



On 13 March, 1865, he was made brigadier-general by brevet for faithful and meritorious services during the war. On 8 June, 1880, he was appointed paymaster-general, with the rank of brigadier-general, and on 6 February, 1882, retired from service.



--His nephew, Thompson S. Brown, civil engineer, born in Brownville, New York, in 1807; died in Naples, Italy, 30 January, 1855, was graduated at the United States military academy in 1825, and was assistant professor of mathematics there for a few months, then served in the construction of Fort Adams, Rhode Island, and from 1828 till 1833 as aide to his uncle, and afterward in the construction of fortifications, light-houses, harbors, and roads. On 31 October, 1836, he resigned his commission, and was chief engineer of the Buffalo and Erie railroad in 1836-'8, of the western division of the New York and Erie railroad in 1838-'42, and of the whole road from 1842 till 1849. He then went to Russia as consulting engineer of the St. Petersburg and Moscow railroad.

BROWN, Jacob, soldier, born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, 9 May, 1775; died in Washington, District of Columbia, 24 February, 1828. He was of Quaker ancestry and supported himself in early life by teaching school. From 1796 till 1798 he was engaged in surveying public lands in Ohio. In 1798 he settled in New York, where he conducted a school, studied law, and wrote political articles for the press. Later he purchased land in Jefferson county, New York, where he established himself and erected the first building in Brownsville, which has since become a flourishing village. He became county judge, and, having had military experience as secretary to General Alexander Hamilton, he was in 1809 made colonel of the militia. In 1810 he was advanced to brigadier-general, and in 1812 received the appointment of commander of the frontier from Oswego to Lake St. Francis, a line 200 miles in extent. On 4 October, 1812, he repelled the attack of a superior British force on Ogdensburg, where his headquarters were located. He was then offered a regiment ill the regular army, but he declined. During the spring of 1813 he assumed command at Sackett's Harbor, where, on 29 May, 1813, he defeated an attack of a superior force.

On 19 July, 1813, he was appointed brigadier-general in the regular army, and on 24 January, 1814, placed in command of the army of Niagara with the rank of major general. In the campaign that followed the American forces were successful. General Brown took possession of Fort Erie, and on 5 July, 1814, gained a victory over General Riall at Chippewa. On 25 July he defeated a superior force under General Drummond at the battle of Lundy's Lane, where he received two severe wounds. In the sortie from Fort Erie on 17 September, 1814, he again defeated General Drummond. In connection with this engagement it was said of General Brown that " no enterprise that he undertook ever failed." The City of New York voted him its freedom, he received the thanks of congress on 3 November, 1814, and was awarded a gold medal emblematical of his triumphs. At the close of the war he was retained in command of the northern division of the army, and on 10 March, 1821, became general-in-chief of the United States army. He was buried in the Congressional cemetery in Washington.--His son, Nathan W., soldier, born in New York about 1819. He was appointed a major and paymaster in the United States army on 5 September, 1849, and served in Florida in 1849, in California in 1850-'5, in New York City in 1856-'7, in Florida and the west in 1858-'60, and was with Sturgis when he evacuated Fort Smith, Arkansas, in April, 1861. He then joined Emory's command at Fort Washita, and until 1869 was stationed at St. Louis in charge of the pay district of the Missouri. He was appointed deputy paymaster-general, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, on 4 April, 1864, and assistant paymaster-general, with the rank of colonel, on 28 July, 1866.

On 13 March, 1865. he was made brigadier-general by brevet for faithful and meritorious services during the war. On 8 June, 1880, he was appointed paymaster-general, with the rank of brigadier-general, and on 6 February, 1882, retired from service. --His nephew, Thompson S., civil engineer, born in Brownville, New York, in 1807; died in Naples, Italy, 30 January, 1855, was graduated at the United States military academy in 1825, and was assistant professor of mathematics there for a few months, then served in the construction of Fort Adams, Rhode Island, and from 1828 till 1833 as aide to his uncle, and afterward in the construction of fortifications, light-houses, harbors, and roads. On 31 October, 1836, he resigned his commission, and was chief engineer of the Buffalo and Erie railroad in 1836-'8, of the western division of the New York and Erie railroad in 1838-'42, and of the whole road from 1842 till 1849. He then went to Russia as consulting engineer of the St. Petersburg and Moscow railroad.

"The Fighting Quaker"

Jacob Jennings Brown
United States general

born May 9, 1775, Bucks County, Pa. [U.S.] died Feb. 24, 1828, Washington, D.C., U.S.
Main

U.S. general during the War of 1812, who was known as “the fighting Quaker.”

Of Pennsylvania Quaker heritage and upbringing, Brown established himself as a prominent New York citizen and rose to brigadier general in the state militia before the War of 1812. His successful defense of Sacket’s Harbor, N.Y., on May 29, 1813, brought him national recognition and a general’s commission in the regular army. He commanded a brigade under Gen. James Wilkinson in the abortive campaign against Montreal, and he succeeded to the command of the Army of the North in January 1814.

After supervising the further training of his still-raw troops, Brown crossed the Niagara River on July 3, 1814. On July 5, he defeated a British force under Gen. Phineas Riall at the Battle of Chippewa, but expected naval support failed to appear and the British brought up reserves. Threatened with being cut off from his base at Fort Erie, on July 25 Brown engaged a slightly larger British force at the Battle of Lundy’s Lane. A long day of fierce fighting ended in a draw, with Brown badly wounded.

The Americans retreated to Fort Erie, where they were besieged by the British. Brown, resuming command, launched a sortie on September 17 that destroyed so much of the enemy artillery that the British abandoned the siege a few days later. Though the Americans were in no shape to pursue, Brown’s hard fighting solidified his position as a national hero: a fighting Quaker and the ideal model of a citizen soldier. As the army’s senior ranking officer, he became its commanding general in 1821 and held the appointment uneventfully until his death.


Dennis E. Showalter

Jacob Jennings Brown

Jacob Jennings Brown
Birth: May 9, 1775
Death: Feb. 24, 1828

War of 1812 United States Army Major General. He became senior General in the American Army in 1815 after leading successful campaigns in New York and Canada. He was appointed the 1st Commanding General of the United States Army on June 1, 1821.



Burial:
Congressional Cemetery
Washington
District of Columbia
District Of Columbia, USA
Plot: Range 57, Site 150

Maintained by: Find A Grave
Record added: Mar 21, 1999
Find A Grave Memorial# 4822

Jacob Jennings Brown was the brother of Abi Brown Evans and a cousin to my gt gt grandmother.