George Huntington Browne (January 6, 1818 – September 26, 1885) was a U.S. Representative from Rhode Island.

George H. Browne
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Rhode Island's 2nd district
In office
March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863
Preceded byWilliam Daniel Brayton
Succeeded byNathan F. Dixon II
Personal details
Born(1818-01-06)January 6, 1818
Glocester, Rhode Island
DiedSeptember 26, 1885(1885-09-26) (aged 67)
Providence, Rhode Island
Resting placeSwan Point Cemetery
NationalityAmerican
Political partyUnionist
Military service
AllegianceUnited States United States
Union
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Union Army
Rank Colonel (United States)
Unit12th Rhode Island Infantry
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Born in Glocester, Rhode Island, Browne attended the public schools and was graduated from Brown University in 1840. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1843 and commenced practice in Providence, Rhode Island.

Browne was elected a representative to the so-called "Charter" General Assembly of Rhode Island in 1842. At the same time was elected a representative to what was termed the "Suffrage" legislature and attended the latter. He served as member of the general assembly under the constitution 1849-1852. He was appointed United States district attorney in 1852 and served until 1861 when he resigned. He served as delegate to the Charleston and Baltimore Democratic National Conventions in 1860. He served as delegate to the Peace Conference of 1861, held in Washington, D.C., in an effort to devise means to prevent the impending war.

Browne was elected as a candidate of the Democratic and Constitutional Union Parties to the Thirty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1862 to the Thirty-eighth Congress. He declined the appointment as Governor of the Territory of Arizona in 1861. He entered the Union Army as colonel of the Twelfth Regiment, Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry, October 13, 1862, and served throughout the Civil War. He served as member of the State senate in 1872 and 1873.

Browne was elected chief justice of the supreme court of Rhode Island in May 1874 but declined the office. He died in Providence, Rhode Island, September 26, 1885. He was interred in Swan Point Cemetery.

Sources

edit
  • United States Congress. "George H. Browne (id: B000956)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Rhode Island
1864, 1865
Succeeded by
Lymon Pierce
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Rhode Island's 2nd congressional district

1861–1863
Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island
1853 – 1861
Succeeded by

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress