Brown, Henry Billings

Born March 2, 1836, in South Lee, MA
Died September 4, 1913, in Bronxville, NY

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Nominated by Ulysses Grant on March 17, 1875, to a seat vacated by John Wesley Longyear. Confirmed by the Senate on March 19, 1875, and received commission on March 19, 1875. Service terminated on December 30, 1890, due to appointment to another judicial position.

Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States
Nominated by Benjamin Harrison on December 23, 1890, to a seat vacated by Samuel F. Miller. Confirmed by the Senate on December 29, 1890, and received commission on December 29, 1890. Service terminated on May 28, 1906, due to retirement.

Supreme Court Oath:
January 5, 1891

Allotment as Circuit Justice:

Sixth Circuit, January 19, 1891-April 1, 1894, August 19, 1895-February 2, 1896
Second Circuit, April 2, 1894-February 2, 1896
Seventh Circuit, February 3, 1896-March 8, 1903
Third Circuit, March 9, 1903-May 28, 1906

Education:
Yale Law School
Harvard Law School
Yale College, B.A., 1856
Read law, 1860

Professional Career:

Private practice, Detroit, Michigan, 1860-1861, 1868-1875
Deputy U.S. marshal, Eastern District of Michigan, 1861-1863
Assistant U.S. attorney, Eastern District of Michigan, 1863-1868
Judge, Wayne County [Michigan] Circuit Court, 1868
Lecturer in law, University of Michigan, 1860-1875
Professor of medical jurisprudence, Detroit Medical College, 1868-1871

Bibliography

Alterman, Irwin M. “Henry Billings Brown: Michigan’s First Supreme Court Justice.” Michigan State Bar Journal, vol. 55, no. 12 (Dec. 1976): 926-9.

Brown, Henry Billings and Charles A. Kent. Memoir of Henry Billings Brown, Late Justice of the Supreme Court: Consisting of an Autobiographical Sketch. New York: Duffield and Co., 1915.

Butler, Charles H. “Mr. Justice Brown.” Green Bag, vol. 18, no. 6 (1906): 321-30.

Glennon, Robert J., Jr. “Justice Henry Billings Brown: Values in Tension.” University of Colorado Law Review, vol. 44 (May 1973): 553-606.

Roumell, George T., Jr. “Henry Billings Brown.” Michigan Bar Journal, vol. 66, no. 11 (Nov. 1987): 1119-21.

Sharlow, Carrie. “Henry Billings Brown: Michigan Lawyers in History.” Michigan Bar Journal, vol. 96, no. 9 (Sep. 2017): 38-9.

“Henry Billings Brown.” Green Bag, vol. 91, no. 2 (Feb. 1891): 91-2.

Manuscript Collections

Detroit Public Library
Burton Historical Collection
Detroit, Mich.
Henry Billings Brown family papers, 1855-1913.
29 vols. and 1 wallet; collection contains Brown's correspondence with his biographer (Charles A. Kent), diaries, expense books containing some brief diary entries, a catalog of Brown's private library, and miscellaneous material about Brown that Kent collected in preparation for the biography.

Federal Judicial Center

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Brown, Henry Billings