Joseph Owen Brown (January 8, 1846 – March 15, 1903) served as Mayor of Pittsburgh from November 25, 1901[1] to March 15, 1903.

Joseph O. Brown
40th Mayor of Pittsburgh
In office
November 25, 1901 – March 15, 1903
Personal details
Born
Joseph Owen Brown

(1846-01-08)January 8, 1846
Tarentum, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedMarch 15, 1903(1903-03-15) (aged 57)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Resting placeBull Creek Cemetery
Political partyRepublican

Biography edit

He was born on January 8, 1846, in what is today East Deer Township, Pennsylvania, just north of Pittsburgh. He served as prothonotary of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania from 1880 until 1887. His first political position in Pittsburgh was director of public safety, a job he obtained in 1887.

Mayor Joseph Brown's administration battled rampant vice within the city with differing degrees of success. The incompetence of the rank and file law enforcers in the city was displayed for everyone to see when the Biddle Brothers made a daring escape from the Pittsburgh jail. The Frick Building was constructed on Grant Street during the Joseph Brown term.[2]

He died in office from heart failure on March 15, 1903. He was buried at Bull Creek Cemetery, not far away from his hometown, Tarentum, Pennsylvania.

See also edit

Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Pittsburgh
1901–1903
Succeeded by

References edit

  1. ^ "No startling pledges made by recorder". The Pittsburgh Gazette. November 26, 1901. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  2. ^ "The Spectator and the Topographical City", by Martin Aurand, page 38.