Charles BROWN, Congress, PA (1797-1883)

BROWN, Charles, a Representative from Pennsylvania; born in Philadelphia, Pa., September 23, 1797; attended the public schools; in early boyhood moved with his father to Cumberland County, N.J., and resided near Bridgeton; officer in the State militia 1817-1819; town clerk of Dover Township 1819; taught school at Dividing Creek in 1820 and 1821; returned to Philadelphia in 1823 and engaged in the cordwood business; appointed a director of the Philadelphia public schools in 1828; member of the Philadelphia City Council in 1830 and 1831; served in the State house of representatives 1830-1833; delegate to the convention to revise the constitution of Pennsylvania 1834-1838; served in the State senate 1838-1841; elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1841-March 3, 1843); was not a candidate for reelection in 1842; president of the State convention to nominate candidates for the board of canal commissioners in 1843; member of the board of commissioners, Northern Liberties Township, in 1843; elected to the Thirtieth Congress (March 4, 1847-March 3, 1849); was not a candidate for reelection in 1848; member of the board of inspectors of the Eastern State Penitentiary 1851-1853; collector of customs at the port of Philadelphia 1853-1857; member of the board of guardians of the poor of Philadelphia in 1860; moved to Dover, Del., in 1861 and engaged in agricultural pursuits; town commissioner of Dover in 1864 and 1865; delegate to the Union National Convention at Philadelphia in 1866; president of the board of trustees of the Dover public schools 1871-1878; died at Dover, Del., September 4, 1883; interment in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pa.

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