On June 6, 1795, long-time lawmaker Bedford Brown was born in Caswell County.
Remembered as a politician who dedicated himself to the preservation of the United States before, during and after the Civil War he feared the most, Brown was elected to the North Carolina House of Commons when he was only 20-years-old. After serving four terms in the House, Brown was elected to the state Senate in 1828, and was chosen as speaker soon after.
He was elected to the United States Senate the following year.
Brown’s 10-year tenure in Congress ended in 1840, when his Unionist views found him out of favor with the Calhoun Democrats of the South. Brown lived in Missouri and Virginia until returning to his Caswell County home in 1855.
Catching a second wind, Brown returned to politics with election to the state Senate in 1858, where he served until 1864. In the fall of 1868, Brown was once again elected to state Senate, but partisan politics prevented his attendance.
Known as an ardent Unionist, Brown considered secession “the greatest political calamity that can befall the people of any nation.” Brown died at his home in December 1870, two years after his political career came to an end.
Other related resources:
- Resources related to the Civil War from across DNCR
- Images of the Civil War from the State Archives
- The Civil War on NCpedia
- The Civil War digital collection of the State Archives and State Library, which includes some materials related specifically to Stanly