The Brown family and in particular the four sons of James Brown (grandson of Chad Brown, who established the family in America), were associated with Rhode Island College from its earliest days.

The merchant brothers, Nicholas, Joseph, John, and Moses, as a unit and individually, contributed to locating the College in Providence, funding its buildings, endowing chairs, and more. Although not the largest, perhaps the most memorable gift of the Brown family was the $5,000 paid by Nicholas Brown, Jr. in 1804 that would give the College its name: Brown University.

Soon after the selection of Providence as the site for the College, construction began on a building to house it, known first as the College Edifice and later as University Hall. The Browns were involved in this effort as well: Joseph Brown was the likely architect, Nicholas Brown and Company took charge of the construction, John Brown laid the cornerstone, and the building was set on land that had once been owned by their great-grandfather Chad Brown. Drawn by Silas Downer, 1770.

Courtesy of the John Carter Brown Library

In addition to the Brown family’s participation in the slave trade, the issue of slavery could be found even closer to home. Building records for the College Edifice, now known as University Hall, show that in addition to funds, donors pledged labor by their slaves. This document and others related to the University’s past were brought to light by the work of the Slavery and Justice Committee, appointed by President Ruth Simmons in 2003.

After years of competition among the communities of Rhode Island and strong advocacy by both the Brown family and city leaders, the decision was finally made to make the College’s permanent home in Providence. With a number of factors in play, it is hard to say exactly what swayed the votes of the members of the Corporation, although they heard arguments in favor of the city’s central location, availability of materials and workers, number of libraries, and money pledged to support the effort. When the dust settled, Providence prevailed, in a vote of 21-14 and it was “…therefore Resolved that the said Edifice be built in the Town of Providence, and there be continued forever.”

“The situation of the College is remarkably airy, healthful and pleasant, being the summit of a hill pretty easy of ascent, and commanding a prospect of the town of Providence below, of the Narragansett Bay, and the islands, and of an extensive country, variegated with hills and dales, woods and plains….Surely, this spot was made for a seat for the Muses.”

— Reverend Morgan Edwards

A significant event in the lead-up to the American Revolution took place just miles from the College. The British customs schooner HMS Gaspee ran aground in Warwick. In one of the earliest acts of resistance to British rule, Providence-based members of the Sons of Liberty, led by John Brown, seized the opportunity to board and burn the ship.

Deeply affected by the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the students of the Class of 1775 decided to cancel the public commencement ceremony, recognizing, “the Distresses of our oppressed Country, which now most unjustly feels the baneful Effects of arbitrary Power.”

Soon after the College moved from Warren to Providence, President James Manning was called to be the pastor of the First Baptist Church. During his ministry, the ample meeting house was built at the base of College Hill “for the publick worship of Almighty God and also for holding commencement in.” Since 1776, all but two commencements have been held in the church.

When British troops seized Newport and Aquidneck Island, the College was garrisoned by American troops. With no other option, President Manning published a notice in the Providence Gazette, closing the College. The school wouldn’t reopen until 1782.