Governor Daniel Russell Brown

DANIEL RUSSELL BROWN was born in Bolton, Connecticut, where he attended public schools. He clerked in a hardware store, later worked his way up to head salesman at a leading hardware store in Hartford, and eventually moved to Providence to take charge of a mill supply store in which he became a partner. He served on the Providence City Council for four years prior to becoming governor. He won his first gubernatorial term by popular vote, his second term by decision of the state legislature after no candidate received a majority of popular vote, and his third term again by popular vote. Thereafter, Brown played a key role in the adoption of a constitutional amendment permitting election by a plurality rather than a majority vote. In addition, measures were enacted during his administration to provide free textbooks and to improve highways. He was New England’s candidate for Vice President at the Republican National Convention of 1896 but was not selected.