James Sproat Brown

Democrat Representative of Wisconsin's 1st district

Congresses Served

House Terms

February 1, 1824 (54 years old)

Birthday

April 15, 1878

Death

First Attorney General of Wisconsin
Served as mayor of Milwaukee
Represented Wisconsin’s 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives during the 38th Congress
Born in Maine and moved west to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he studied law and was admitted to the Kentucky Bar Association at age 18
Moved to Milwaukee at the persuasion of Archbishop John Henni
Elected prosecuting attorney of Milwaukee County at age 21
Attempted to establish a law school in Milwaukee, which failed
Declined to run for re-election as mayor due to criticism over handling of a bank riot and police budget cuts
Ran for Congress as a War Democrat, served one term, and withdrew from re-election due to being denounced as anti-Union
Traveled to Europe with his second wife due to health problems, returned to the U.S. in 1873 to practice law and manage real estate investments
Married twice, first to Elizabeth Shepard with whom he had two sons, and then to Emily J. Stetson after Elizabeth’s death
Died in Chicago and was buried in Milwaukee’s Forest Home Cemetery
His elder son Clarence was elected district attorney of Milwaukee County in the 1890s