B. Gratz Brown

Benjamin Gratz Brown (May 28, 1826 – December 13, 1885) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the Governor of Missouri from 1871 to 1873. He was also a U.S. Senator from Missouri and the Vice Presidential nominee of the Liberal Republican Party in the 1872 presidential election.

Early Life and Education

Born in Lexington, Kentucky, Brown was the grandson of Senator John Brown of Kentucky. He attended Transylvania University before transferring to Yale University, where he graduated in 1847. After studying law, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he began his legal career.

Political Career

Brown's political career began in the Missouri House of Representatives, where he served from 1852 to 1858. A strong opponent of slavery, he was a key figure in the Missouri and national political landscape leading up to and during the American Civil War. In 1863, he was elected to the United States Senate, where he served until 1867.

In 1870, Brown was elected Governor of Missouri as a candidate of the Liberal Republican Party, a faction that broke away from the Republican Party, advocating for civil rights and reform. As governor, he focused on education reform, infrastructure improvement, and reconciliation between the North and South post-Civil War.

1872 Presidential Election

In the 1872 election, Brown was selected as the vice-presidential running mate of Horace Greeley, the founder of the New York Tribune. The Greeley-Brown ticket was endorsed by both the Liberal Republicans and the Democratic Party, aiming to defeat incumbent President Ulysses S. Grant. However, the campaign was unsuccessful, and Grant won a second term.

Later Life and Legacy

After his defeat in the vice-presidential race, Brown returned to Missouri and resumed his law practice. He remained active in politics and public affairs until his death in 1885 in Kirkwood, Missouri.

Brown's contributions to Missouri's political and social development are remembered for his progressive stance on civil rights and his efforts to bridge the divide between the North and South during a tumultuous period in American history.

See Also

• List of Governors of Missouri
• United States presidential election, 1872