Joseph Brown

Joseph Brown, 1733-1785, was one if the five famous Brown brothers of 18th century Providence. He was a successful entrepreneur, a respected scientist and astronomer, as well as an accomplished architect whose buildings include the First Baptist Church, the Providence Market House, University Hall and the John Brown House.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Brown_(astronomer)

Joseph Brown (December 3, 1733 – December 3, 1785) was an early American industrialist, architect, astronomer, and professor at Brown University.

Biography

Brown was one of the four surviving sons (known in Providence annals as the “Four Brothers”) of James Brown II (born in Providence, 22 March 1698; died there, 27 April 1739), a merchant, and Hope Power Brown. Like his father, Joseph Brown engaged in business, and in manufacturing, and acquired sufficient wealth to permit him to follow his natural taste for science. He was greatly interested in the science of electricity, and his knowledge of that subject was remarkable for the time. He left an electric machine of his own construction, an outstanding example of this sort of apparatus for that time.

He devoted considerable study to mechanics and was proficient in astronomy. His attention having been directed to the arrangements in course of preparation for the proper observation of the transit of Venus in 1769, he sent to England for suitable instruments, and subsequently an account of the observations made in Providence was published by Benjamin West, later professor of natural philosophy at Rhode Island College (now Brown University). Brown was a warm friend of the Rhode Island College, and was one of its trustees from 1769 until 1785. In 1770 he received the honorary degree of A.M. from the College, and from 1784 until his death held the chair of natural philosophy, giving his services to the institution without compensation.

Joseph Brown was a member of the First Baptist Church in America.

Family

His brothers, all merchants of Rhode Island, were: Nicholas Brown, Sr., John Brown (a founder of Rhode Island College), and Moses Brown. He also had a sister, Mary.

One of the "Four Brown Brothers", who were sons of James Brown Jr. [1697-1739] and Hope Power [1701-1792]. On 30 Sep 1759, he married his cousin, Elizabeth Power, daughter of Nicholas Power and Anna Tillinghast. All of the Brown brothers made names for themselves in business, philanthropy, and patriotism, being connected to the notorius Gaspee Affair, but Joseph was the most active politically. He was appointed to the Town of Providence Committee of Inspection, December 1773, and was actively involved in the manufacturing of saltpeter for use in gunpowder, planning fortifications at Fox Point, and procuring fire-ships for the defense of the Colony. Joseph Brown served as a Deputy from Providence to the RI General Assembly, and as State Senator from Providence in 1784. He was also listed as being appointed to represent the State of Rhode Island in newly-formed Congress, but apparently never served since he is known to have suffered a stroke in 1784. Although he did engage in the merchant business of Nicholas Brown and Company for income, his political and social activities overshadowed his business activities. His scientific skills were put to good use, though, and he was left by his brothers to be largely in charge of the mechanics of the Hope furnace and the spermeceti candle factory that his family owned. He was an architect, leaving as part of his legacy the design of the Joseph Brown House (1774), the John Brown house, University Hall at Brown University, the Market Building, and the First Baptist Church of America (1774) whose spire and style have inspired church goers in Providence for three centuries. He's listed in the Biographical Dictionary of American Architects. The John Brown House is the centerpiece of the RI Historical Society holdings. This brownstone-and-brick mansion, was designed by Joseph Brown for his brother John (1736-1803), and was built between 1786 and 1788.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Mar 24 2020, 4:18:39 UTC

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Mar 24 2020, 19:10:19 UTC