Representative Edward Everts Browne

Edward Everts Browne (February 16, 1868 – November 23, 1945) was an American lawyer and Republican politician from Waupaca County, Wisconsin, who served as a Representative from Wisconsin in the United States Congress from 1913 to 1931. A member of the Republican Party, he represented Wisconsin’s 8th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives for nine consecutive terms, participating in the legislative process during a significant period in American history and representing the interests of his constituents.

Browne was born in Waupaca, Waupaca County, Wisconsin, where he attended the local public schools and Waupaca High School. He came from a politically active family: his father, Edward L. Browne, served in the Wisconsin State Senate, and his uncle, Charles E. Browne, was a member of the legislature of the Wisconsin Territory. This family background in public service helped shape his early interest in law and politics and provided a foundation for his later career in state and national government.

After completing his early education, Browne enrolled at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, from which he graduated in 1890. He continued his studies at the law department of the same university, earning his law degree in 1892. That same year he was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law in his hometown of Waupaca, Wisconsin. His legal practice established him as a prominent figure in the community and served as the starting point for his entry into public office.

Browne’s early political career developed at the county and state levels. He served as district attorney of Waupaca County from 1898 to 1905, gaining experience in public prosecution and local administration. Active in party affairs, he was a delegate to the Republican State conventions in 1902, 1904, and 1906, participating in the shaping of state party platforms and candidate selections. He also served as a member of the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1905 and 1906, contributing to the governance of his alma mater. From 1907 to 1912, he was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate, where he further developed his legislative skills and statewide political profile.

In 1912, Browne was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-third Congress and to the eight succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1913, to March 3, 1931. During these nine terms in office, he contributed to the legislative process at the national level and took part in debates and decisions during a transformative era that included World War I and the early years of the Great Depression. Representing Wisconsin’s 8th congressional district, he participated in the democratic process on behalf of his constituents. Notably, on April 5, 1917, he was one of the 50 members of the House of Representatives who voted against declaring war on Germany, placing him among a minority that opposed U.S. entry into World War I. In 1930 he was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination, bringing his long tenure in Congress to a close.

Following his departure from Congress in 1931, Browne resumed the practice of law, returning to his profession after nearly two decades in national office. He remained engaged in public affairs in Wisconsin and continued his interest in conservation and natural resources. From 1936 to 1941, he served as a member of the State conservation commission, contributing to the development and oversight of conservation policy in Wisconsin during a period of growing public concern for environmental stewardship.

Edward Everts Browne died in Evanston, Illinois, on November 23, 1945. Although he died outside his home state, he was interred in Lakeside Cemetery in Waupaca, Wisconsin, reflecting his enduring ties to the community where he was born, educated, and began his legal and political career.