author
George William Brown
1812–1890
Remembered as Baltimore’s Civil War mayor, he also built a long career as a lawyer, judge, and teacher. His life moved through politics, the courtroom, and public service at a turning point in American history.
1 Audiobook
Baltimore and the Nineteenth of April, 1861: A Study of the War
by George William Brown
About the author
Born in Baltimore in 1812, he graduated from Rutgers College in 1831 and went on to become a prominent lawyer, legal educator, and public figure in Maryland. He later taught at the University of Maryland School of Law and became closely associated with the city’s legal institutions.
He is best known for serving as mayor of Baltimore from 1860 to 1861, a tense period just before and during the opening of the Civil War. After his time as mayor, he continued in public life and later served as chief judge of Baltimore City’s Supreme Bench.
Brown was also known as a founder and leader of professional and civic organizations in Baltimore, including bar and library institutions that supported the city’s legal community. He died in 1890, leaving behind a reputation shaped by law, municipal leadership, and the difficult politics of his era.