Benjamin Gratz Brown (L)

Overview

At a Glance

• Helped expel the Ku Klux Klan from Missouri
• Established the schools of law and medicine at University of Missouri
• Supported the admittance of women at the University of Missouri
• Worked to reform criminal justice system
• Established a nonpartisan civil service system
• Secured a new Governor's Mansion

Personal History

Benjamin Gratz Brown was born on May 28, 1826, into a politically influential family. Among other influential family members, his grandfather served as an aide-de-camp to the Marquis de Lafayette during the French Revolution and studied law under Thomas Jefferson, eventually becoming Kentucky’s first U.S. senator.

During his childhood, Brown’s family dropped the name “Benjamin,” and he became known simply as “Gratz.” After the early death of his mother, he was raised at his grandfather’s estate. In 1841, he began his higher education at Transylvania University, where he formed a friendship with fellow law student Frank Blair. However, after studying there for four years, he transferred to Yale College, graduating in 1847. Upon returning to Kentucky, Brown continued his legal education under his father and at Louisville Law School. Brown was a committed Whig, and his views evolved in response to the rising antislavery sentiment of the era, leading him to adopt a moderate stance on emancipation.

In 1849, Brown moved to St. Louis to join the law practice of his cousins, Montgomery and Frank Blair, both of whom were key allies of Missouri’s long-serving Democratic Senator Thomas Hart Benton. In 1852, the Benton faction established the Missouri Democrat, a newspaper designed to voice their political perspectives. Brown contributed editorials from its inception and became its editor-in-chief in 1854. However, his tenure was cut short five years later when he was ousted from his seat in the state legislature.

In August 1858, Brown married 17-year-old Mary Gunn, and together they had six children. Following his departure from the Missouri Democrat, he ventured into organizing the Citizens Railway Company of St. Louis, which aimed to establish the city’s first streetcar system. When the Civil War erupted, Brown took the initiative to organize a volunteer regiment, assuming the role of colonel despite lacking formal military training. However, he soon found the experience tedious, growing increasingly frustrated with the inefficiencies and shortages that impacted the regiment.

After leaving office, Brown faced significant financial difficulties, prompting him to return to legal practice after struggling with various business endeavors. He also pursued his passion for mathematics by authoring two short books on the subject. Gratz Brown passed away at his home in Kirkwood, Missouri, and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Kirkwood.

Political History

Brown’s career as a journalist ran parallel to his active involvement in politics. Elected to the General Assembly in 1852, he quickly became a contentious figure due to his strong support for the Bentonites. After two years, he narrowly secured reelection to the state house by just 12 votes. By 1856, Brown began to shift toward the Republican Party, making his new stance clear in a speech to the state legislature in 1857, where he forcefully advocated for the abolition of slavery in Missouri. Instead of framing his arguments on moral grounds, he positioned himself as a defender of the aspirations of free white labor, claiming that slavery impeded economic progress. This perspective, exacerbated by the economic panic of 1857, gained him supporters but also intensified opposition, leading to a defeat in the 1858 election.

In 1860, Brown was elected as a delegate for Edward Bates to the Republican National Convention in Chicago. Although he found Bates too conservative, he played a crucial role in aligning the Missouri delegation with the growing support for Abraham Lincoln. Following this, Brown emerged as a leader of the radical faction within Missouri’s Republican Party and co-founded the Missouri Emancipation Society, advocating for the immediate end of slavery. He was fervently outspoken, calling for “eternal” punishment for rebels and imposing stringent civil rights restrictions on Southern sympathizers. Despite his polarizing nature, his radicalism propelled him to a prominent position in state politics, and in 1863, he was appointed to the U.S. senate to replace pro-South Senator Waldo P. Johnson.

During his Senate tenure, Brown concentrated on rebuilding Missouri’s economy. He succeeded in securing $6.7 million in reimbursements for military expenses, as well as federal land grants for developing new railroads and measures to enhance navigation on the Mississippi River, including a concession for a new bridge at St. Louis. Concurrently, he promoted government reforms such as curtailing partisanship through civil service extensions, nationalizing telegraph lines, and reducing federal work hours. However, by the end of the Civil War, Brown’s extremism began to wane. He started advocating for “Universal Suffrage and Universal Amnesty,” arguing that while civil rights restrictions were justifiable during wartime, reconciliation was necessary for those who had supported the South, even extending to women’s suffrage.

Despite his calls for amnesty, Brown’s new positions alienated the Radical faction that still held sway in Missouri politics. By 1867, he did not seek reelection, citing health issues, and was succeeded by Charles C. Drake. Yet, by 1869, a political evolution had occurred, as prominent Liberals like Missouri Senator Carl Schurz and Democrat editor William Grosvenor sought Brown’s support in calling for universal amnesty and civil service reform. In 1870, the Liberal Republican Party nominated Brown for governor. Although the race was intensely competitive, Democrats joined forces with Liberal Party members, enabling Brown to secure a decisive victory.

During his governorship, Brown sought after the presidency. After failing to secure the nomination, he backed newspaper editor Horace Greeley, who appointed Brown as his running mate. The Greeley ticket ultimately lost to Ulysses S. Grant by a significant margin, effectively ending the Liberal Republican movement. Following the 1872 election, Brown aligned with the Democratic Party and withdrew from the political arena.

Throughout his governorship, Brown focused on promoting post-war healing. He championed education, especially for women, and sought to reform the criminal justice system. He initiated the development of a nonpartisan civil service system, replaced the old governor’s mansion with an elegant new residence, and successfully curtailed the Ku Klux Klan’s activities in Missouri. Nevertheless, his primary ambition during this period was to campaign for the presidency.

Historical Significance

Brown was a passionate advocate for public education and one of the early Missouri governors to show genuine interest in women’s rights particularly women’s suffrage. His efforts to eliminate restrictions on civil rights and restore voting rights for Southern sympathizers played a significant role in healing the deep political divisions lingering from the Civil War.