Nicholas Brown Jr.


Nicholas Brown Jr. was an American businessman and philanthropist from Providence, Rhode Island, who was the namesake of Brown University.

Early life

Nicholas Brown Jr. was the son of Rhoda Jenckes and Nicholas Brown Sr., a merchant and co-founder of Brown University. He was the nephew of John Brown and Moses Brown and a descendant of the English colonist and Baptist minister Chad Brown, who co-founded Providence. His maternal grandfather was Daniel Jenckes, a judge from a prominent family.

Career

Both Nicholas Brown Jr. and his father were members of and large donors to the First Baptist Church in America. Nicholas Brown Jr. graduated from the College of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in 1786. After the death of his father, Brown created the company of Brown & Ives with his future brother-in-law, Thomas Poynton Ives, and served in the state legislature as a Federalist.
After inheriting his father's estate in 1791, Brown became such a great benefactor to the school that it was renamed Brown University for him in 1804 when he donated $5,000 to the college. His total gifts to the college totaled over $150,000. Brown also co-founded the Providence Athenaeum and was active in various Baptist and literary causes. He was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1813.

Personal life

He was married to Ann Carter, daughter of John Carter, a prominent printer in Providence. Together, they had:
After his death September 27, 1841, Brown was interred in North Burial Ground in Providence. When Brown died in 1841 he left a $30,000 bequest to form a mental hospital, which eventually became known as Butler Hospital.