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Jacob Jennings Brown (1775–1828) was an American army officer in the War of 1812, meeting with a great deal of success in the Great Lakes region. In 1821, he was appointed commanding general of the United States Army.
Jacob Brown in Trail of Glory[]
Jacob Brown reached the rank of Senior Officer of the United States Army in the closing year of the War of 1812. He maintained an equivalent rank until 1824, owing to both his poor health and the election of Henry Clay as President of the United States.
Army of the Niagara[]
In 1814, Brown was in overall command of the Army of Niagara, but for a period of weeks, left command of the Army to Brigadier Winfield Scott.
Brown was not a professional soldier, but rather a member of the New York militia, and been given command for political reasons. However, he was determined to fight the British, a fact which impressed Scott tremendously. Thus, the two became quite close. Brown was also aware of his own limitations as a soldier, and so gave Scott a wide berth when it came to military matters.
In June, 1814, with news that Napoleon had abdicated two months prior, Brown decided to move on the British. He organized three Brigades. The First Brigade (the largest of the three) went to Scott. Second Brigade went to General Eleazar Ripley. The Third Brigade, made up primarily of militias and Indians, was commanded by Peter Porter.
The actual attack came in July, 1814. Scott was able to take Fort Erie in short order. Two days later, all brigades participated at the Battle of Chippewa, which was a substantial victory for Brown's men.
Brown pressed on, chasing British General Phineas Riall to Fort George. This lead to the Battle of Lundy's Lane, which saw Brown and Scott both badly injured. Lundy's Lane was claimed as a victory by the British, but it was better described as a draw.
| Military offices | ||
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| Preceded by Henry Dearborn |
Senior Officer of the United States Army 1815-1821 |
Succeeded by None (Commanding General of the United States Army) |
| Preceded by None (Senior Officer of the United States Army) |
Commanding General of the United States Army 1821-1828 |
Succeeded by Alexander Macomb |
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