John "Red" Brown (1787 – c. 1852) was an American politician that served in both chambers of the Alabama Legislature, as a representative in the Republic of Texas and later as a state representative for Texas. He served briefly as the second Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives in the First Texas Legislature. Brown was also one of the founders of the Democratic Party in Texas and is the founder and namesake of Brownsboro, Texas. He had the shortest term as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, with only 7 days in office.

Linda S. Hudson wrote that Brown was likely born in Ireland and that early Texas census records list him as an Irishman and a farmer.^[1] However, John "Red" Brown was born in South Carolina in 1787.^[2][3] He was commonly known as Red due to his ruddy complexion, to distinguish himself from the other John Browns in the county.^[4]

He moved to Alabama from South Carolina in about 1818.^[2] On September 17, 1822, Brown was appointed as the presiding judge of Jefferson County, Alabama. He held the judicial office until January 1, 1823. He succeeded Peter Walker in county court, now known as the probate court, and was succeeded by Walker Keith Baylor.^[4][5] He was a member of both houses of the general assembly and moved to Tuskaloosa in 1834. He was the steward of the University of Alabama until he moved to Texas two years later.^[2]

He moved to Texas in 1836, settling in the Nacogdoches district. Brown represented Nacogdoches in the 6th Congress of the Republic of Texas from 1841 to 1842.^[6][3]

Brown was elected to the First Texas Legislature after annexation of Texas into the United States. On March 3, 1846, Speaker William Crump was given a leave of absence, and Brown was elected Speaker of the House pro tempore.^[6] On March 9, 1846, Brown resigned as Speaker pro tempore, and the House elected Edward Thomas Branch.^[7]

He was a founder of Henderson County when it was formed from Nacogdoches County in 1846. Brown served as a notary public and a ferry operator, and received a license to operate a toll-bridge over Kickapoo Creek near Old Normandy (present-day Brownsboro, which was named for John Brown). On 27 April 1846, Brown helped to found the Texas Democratic Party in Austin. Brown served as a commissioner to help locate the state penitentiary in 1848. Brown established the town of Brownsboro in 1849, now the oldest town in Henderson County.^[6] In 1850, Brown was one of the commissioners that selected Athens as the seat of Henderson County.^[1]

Brown was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 17th district for 4 days. He was sworn in on November 3, 1851, and was unseated on November 6 following a contested election.^[6] He served until a vote recount proved that his opponent, Jonathan Russell, won the election.^[3]

Brown was married to Margaret Hodges Brooks. After her death in 1849, he married Elizabeth Ann (née Rainer) Holland in 1851.^[1] In the 1850 census, he was recorded as living in Van Zandt County, Texas. Brown probably died in the vicinity of Van Zandt County^[3] in 1852.^[1]