Brown, Joseph (1)

an English Baptist minister, was born in Coventry, in June 1730. He was educated under Dr. Doddridge, at Northampton, who appointed him as his assistant in his lectures on experimental philosophy. For all branches of natural sciences he had a special aptitude, and throughout life cultivated his taste for the mechanic arts. He afterwards became a Baptist and was ordained, his first settlement being at Downton, in Wiltshire, and his second at Fair Street, Horsley Down. After several removals he finally accepted a call to the Church at Deptford. For many years Mr. Brown was secretary to the General Assembly of the Baptists. He died May 21,1803. See Wilson, Hist. of the Dissenting Churches, 4:262, 263. (J.C.S.)

an English minister of the Society of Friends, was born at Lothersdale, West Riding, Yorkshire, in 1751. His occupation, for many years, was that of constructing dry stone fences. With his utmost efforts, he found it hard to earn enough to support his large family. In the thirty-first year of his age "he came forth in the ministry," and labored to the best of his ability, chiefly in his own immediate vicinity. In 1795 he was committed to York castle, and subsequently was thrown into prison because of his refusal to pay tithes for the support of the Established Church. He was discharged at the end of two years, and was able afterwards to comfort others in like circumstances "with the comfort wherewith he had been comforted of God." He died a peaceful death, June 28, 1803. See Piety Promoted, 3:318-20. (J.C.S.).