Francis H. Brownell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Francis Herbert Brownell
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1902 portrait
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| Born | April 21, 1867 Little Compton, Rhode Island
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| Died | March 8, 1954 (aged 86) New York, New York
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| Resting place | Queen Anne Columbarium |
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| Years active | 1890–1950 |
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| Known for | Washington state pioneer, lawyer, social activist, and investor. Contributed to the cities of Tacoma, Everett, Seattle and New York. Occupied mainly managerial positions at companies in mining, smelting, banking, railroad, copper, brass, sugar, and other businesses. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Josephine Noble (married 1894–1954) |
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Francis Herbert Brownell (born April 21, 1867 – died March 8, 1954) was an important pioneer, lawyer, and businessman in Washington state. He helped develop cities like Tacoma, Everett, and Seattle. He also worked in New York.
As a key figure in Everett's early days, Brownell was on the hospital board and a trustee for the city library. He also directed the First National Bank and led the Chamber of Commerce.
Brownell started his law career in New York in 1890. The next year, he moved to Washington state, which was just becoming a state. He looked for new business chances there. He worked with other lawyers, focusing on business and company law. His clients included major mining, railroad, and banking companies.
Later, Brownell worked for the Guggenheim family at their American Smelting & Refining Company. He also worked at the Seattle National Bank. His work with the Guggenheims lasted many years. He held leadership roles in their company from 1909 until he retired in 1950. In 1925, Brownell joined the board of directors at the Seattle National Bank. He later became the chairman. In 1929, he led the bank when it joined with the Seattle First National Bank.
Brownell invested a lot in land, logging, and lumber companies in Seattle and Everett. He held many leadership jobs in law, banking, and other industries. He was also active in social groups and was a Republican. He and his wife attended the Episcopalian church.
Contents
Early Life and Family History
Francis Brownell was born on April 21, 1867, in Little Compton, Rhode Island. His family came to America from England in 1636. They settled in Massachusetts. His great-grandfather fought in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783). His grandfather was a member of the Rhode Island General Assembly.
Brownell's father, Frederick, was born in Rhode Island. He worked as a town clerk and treasurer. He was also a member of the state legislature. Frederick married Ann Coggshall. Her family helped found the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Francis was the oldest of Frederick and Ann's four children.
Education and Learning
Brownell went to public schools. He then won a scholarship to Moses Brown School. He finished school there in 1884. After that, he studied at Brown University. He worked as a tutor to pay for his studies. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1888. Later, he continued his education at Columbia Law School.
Career and Business Ventures
Starting His Law Career
Brownell began his law practice in New York in June 1890. He soon decided to move west. He was looking for better job chances. This was right after the western part of Washington Territory became Washington state. In August 1890, he settled in Tacoma. He started his law practice there. He worked with George A. Brown, another lawyer.
Developing Everett, Washington
In 1891, Brownell and Brown moved their law practice to Everett. This was soon after the city was founded. They worked together until 1895. After Brown left, Brownell worked alone for several years. In 1902, he partnered with J. A. Coleman. They started their own law firm, Brownell & Coleman. By 1903, they had many important clients.
Brownell mainly worked in business law and company law. His clients were top firms in Everett. These included the Everett Improvement Company and the Everett Street Railway & Light Company. He also worked for the Everett Pulp & Paper Company and the Puget Sound Reduction Company. Other clients were the Monte Cristo Railroad Company and the Everett First National Bank.
Brownell was a member of the Everett hospital board. He also served as a trustee for the city library. He was a director at the First National Bank of Everett. He also served as president of the Everett Chamber of Commerce.
Key Roles in New York and Seattle
Leading American Smelting and Refining Company
In 1905, Brownell moved to Seattle. He continued his law practice there. He also started working for the Guggenheim family in their smelting and refining business. Smelting is a process that uses heat to get metal from its ore. Refining makes the metal pure. In 1909, he became president of the Federal Mining and Smelting Company. The Guggenheims' American Smelting & Refining Company had recently bought it.
By 1919, Brownell moved to New York. The Guggenheims asked him to take an executive job at their company. By 1925, the company was known as "the largest of its kind in the world." It owned and ran smelters in Mexico, South America, and North America.
Brownell started as a lawyer for the company. Over time, he held many important roles. He was president, chairman of the finance committee, first vice president, and chairman of the company board. He even became the head of the company.
Shaping the Seattle National Bank
After working for the Guggenheims, Brownell mostly lived in New York. But he still spent a lot of time in Seattle. In 1925, he was chosen to be a director on the board of the Seattle National Bank. Daniel Kelleher, the bank's chairman and Brownell's friend, said Brownell was a "successful business executive." Brownell played an active part in the bank's growth. He became the bank's second-largest individual stockholder.
In 1929, Brownell took over from Daniel Kelleher as chairman of the board of directors. In the same year, under Brownell's leadership, the bank joined with the Seattle First National Bank.
Other Business Activities
Besides his main work in Everett and Seattle, Brownell invested in real estate in both cities. He also invested in logging and lumber companies.
In New York, he was part of the executive committee and a director of the Chase National Bank. He also worked with the General Cable Corporation and the Republic Brass Corporation. Other roles included working for the Northern Pacific Railway and the Mortgage Bond Company. He was also involved with the American Sugar & Refining Company. He was president of the Washington State Bar Association. He was also board chairman of Revere Copper & Brass Incorporation.
Brownell was president of the Copper Institute. He was also chairman of the Copper Exporters Incorporation. He was known in business as a "prominent financier" and a leader in the Puget Sound area.
Retirement and Later Years
In 1950, Brownell retired from his business work. After retiring, he wrote a brochure called Gold and the Monetary Problem in 1949. In it, he discussed the money system and gold prices.
Memberships and Social Life
In college, Brownell was a member of Alpha Delta Phi and Phi Beta Kappa social groups. Later in life, he joined the Masonic Peninsular Lodge No. 95 in Everett. He was also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He helped start the Snohomish County Agricultural Society.
He was a member of the Seattle Country Club, the Seattle Golf Club, and the Rainier Club. He was also part of the Washington State Bar Association.
Personal Life and Family
Brownell married Josephine Noble in 1894. They had two sons: Francis H. Brownell Jr. and Kenneth Cooke Brownell. Both sons followed in their father's footsteps. Francis H. Jr. worked at the Seattle National Bank as a vice president. Kenneth C. became president and chairman of the American Smelting & Refining Company.
In 1902, Brownell built a family home in Everett. Later, the family lived in New York. They also had a home on Bainbridge Island.
The Brownells attended the Episcopalian church. Josephine Brownell was a member there. In politics, Brownell supported the Republican party.
Francis Brownell died on March 8, 1954, at his home in New York. He had been ill for several months.
