# Frederick P. Brown *Minnesota Secretary of State, 1891–1895* Frederick Petersen Brun (August 12, 1838 – February 7, 1925), whose name was often anglicized as Fredrick Petersen Brown, was a Norwegian-born sailor, clerk, farmer, Union Army veteran and Republican politician. He held office as the tenth [[Minnesota Secretary of State]] for two consecutive terms, from 1891 to 1895.[^1] Before statewide office he was register of deeds of [[Faribault County, Minnesota]], elected in 1872 and serving until 1890, longer than any earlier holder of that county office. He won the secretary of state's office as the [[Republican Party of Minnesota]] candidate in 1890 and was re-elected in 1892, serving under Governors [[William Rush Merriam]] and [[Knute Nelson]].[^1] ## Early life Brun was born on August 12, 1838, in Kopervik, a town in Rogaland, Norway, which was then part of the Union between Sweden and Norway. His father commanded a merchant ship and worked in trade, and the family traced its descent to Johan Nordahl Brun, a bishop of the Church of Norway.[^1] After seven years at sea as a young man, he emigrated to the United States in 1854 and made his home in Christiana, in Dane County, Wisconsin, working as a farmer and clerk.[^1] ## Military service In the American Civil War he enlisted in the Union Army with Company K of the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, a company known as the "Dane County Guards" and commanded by Captain William Hawley. The regimental roster records his discharge for illness on June 30, 1861. Later that year he relocated to Rochester, Minnesota, and took work as a clerk.[^1] ## Politics Before leaving Wisconsin, Brown held the post of postmaster of the Wisconsin State Senate for one term.[^1] He moved in 1866 to Blue Earth City, in Faribault County, won election as county register of deeds in 1872, and kept that office until 1890.[^1] Brown sought the office of Minnesota Secretary of State as the Republican nominee in 1890. He won with 42.11% of the vote, a margin of +3.31%, in a field that also included Peter Nelson of the Minnesota [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], Populist Henry B. Martin and Prohibitionist Hans Aaker.[^1] In the 1892 race, against Democrat Axel Lindholm, Farmers' Alliance candidate Michael Wesenberg and Prohibitionist Hans Hilleboe, he took 40.33% of the vote, a margin of +3.50%.[^1] His two terms ran from 1891 to 1895, during the governorships of Merriam and Nelson. His successor as secretary of state was [[Albert Berg (politician)|Albert Berg]]; Brown went back to farming after leaving office.[^1] ## Personal life In 1863, in Rochester, Minnesota, Brown married Lena Larson; the couple had eight children. He died in [[Minnesota]] on February 7, 1925.[^1] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - Frederick P. Brown, Republican, Minnesota Secretary of State, 1891–1895.[^1] ### What - Two terms as Minnesota Secretary of State, served under Governors Merriam and Nelson; earlier, Faribault County register of deeds.[^1] ### When - Born August 12, 1838; died February 7, 1925.[^1] - Elected 1890; re-elected 1892; left office 1895.[^1] ### Where - Blue Earth City, Faribault County, Minnesota (register of deeds, 1872–1890).[^1] ### How many - Two terms as secretary of state; eight children with Lena Larson.[^1] ## See also - [[Minnesota Secretary of State]] - [[Republican Party of Minnesota]] - [[Faribault County, Minnesota]] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Frederick P. Brown* (revision 1372524702, retrieved 2026-10-25) — birth, emigration, Civil War service, county and state offices, 1890 and 1892 election results, family and death. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_P._Brown