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John Sinclair Brown
Member From: 1916 - 1934
- Birth Date: September 30, 1880 Birth Place:Warm Springs, VA
- Death Date: January 15, 1965
- Gender: Male Race: Caucasian
- Spouse: Jane Lewis Johnston
- Children:
- Religion:
- Education: Rockingham County Public Schools Burnsville Academy
- Military Service:
- Occupation/Profession: Farmer President, The Farmers National Bank of Salem
- Memberships/Affiliations: Presbyterian Church (elder) Masons Odd Fellows Knights of Pythias Tuberculosis Commission (chairman) Governor's Advisory Board on the Budget
- Bio: Born at Warm Springs, Bath County, Va., September30, 1880. Died in Roanoke, Va., January 15, 1965. Buried in Sherwood Memorial Park, Salem, Va. J. Sinclair Brown of Roanoke County was the son of George and Margaret W. (Anderson) Brown. He attended public schools, Burns- ville Academy, W. Va., and the University of Virginia. He was president, chairman, and director of the Farmers National Bank of Salem, president of the Virginia Bankers Association, and vice president of the American Bankers Association, As a member of the House of Delegates, 1916-1936, he lead in the establishment of the State Highway System, was “Father of the State Budget”, and was a member of the Commission to codify the State banking laws. In many other ways, he rendered the Commonwealth invaluable service. As Speaker of the House and as President of the Constitutional Convention of 1945, he presided with a dignity, understanding, calmness, and clarity that could not be excelled. Dr. Douglas S. Freeman said of him in an editorial in the Richmond News Leader: “Sinclair Brown represents every ideal that should be exemplified in that office (Speaker). He is relatively young and intellectually he looks to the future, but he has those qualities of manner, of judgment and of mind that we are accustomed to associate with the Old Virginia gentleman." It was a gratification to the right-minded people of the State to know that on every public occasion, no matter how wildly others might flounder about in ignorance or in violation of the proprieties, Speaker Brown always knew exactly what to do and in precisely what spirit to do it. In the councils of the General Assembly, his was steadfastly the voice of courage, of moderation and of sound judgment. He could always be relied upon in every, test of every kind. And that, unfortunately, can be said of few men.” He married, October 9, 1902, Jane Lewis Johnston, daughter of James Waddell and Frances (Zirkle) Johnston of Salem.
While he was Speaker of the House, the Clerks were JOHN W. WILLIAMS and E. GRIFFITH DODSON. - Other Notable Service and/or Elected Offices:
Virginia Constitutional Convention: 1945
Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates - 1930-1936
| Session | District | District Number | Party | Leadership | Committees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1918-1919 | County of Roanoke | Democrat | Public Property (Chair) Appropriations Roads and Internal Navigation |
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| 1919 Ex. | County of Roanoke | Democrat | Public Property (Chair) Appropriations Roads and Internal Navigation |
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| 1920 | County of Roanoke | Democrat | Appropriations (Chair) Public Property Roads and Internal Navigation |
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| 1922-1923 | County of Roanoke | Democrat | Appropriations (Chair) Public Property Roads and Internal Navigation |
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| 1923 Ex. | County of Roanoke | Democrat | Appropriations (Chair) Public Property Roads and Internal Navigation |
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| 1924 | County of Roanoke | Democrat | Appropriations (Chair) Public Property Roads and Internal Navigation |
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| 1926-1927 | County of Roanoke | Democrat | Appropriations (Chair) Public Property Roads and Internal Navigation |
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| 1927 Ex. | County of Roanoke | Democrat | Appropriations (Chair) Public Property Roads and Internal Navigation |
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| 1928 | County of Roanoke | Democrat | Appropriations (Chair) Roads and Internal Navigation Rules |
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| 1930 | County of Roanoke | Democrat | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
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| 1932-1933 | County of Roanoke | Democrat | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
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| 1933 Ex. | County of Roanoke | Democrat | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
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| 1934 | County of Roanoke | Democrat | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
*The information within this interactive and searchable application has been researched extensively by the House Clerk’s Office. As with any historical records of this age and breadth, there may be discrepancies and/or inconsistencies within records obtained from a variety of credible sources. Any feedback is encouraged at history@house.virginia.gov.