Councillor William H. Brown Mayor of Newport 1900 - 1901
Photo reference number: 1751
Councillor William Henry Brown, upon whom the choice of the Corporation fell in electing the chief magistrate for 1900-1, came to Newport 47 years ago when but five years old from Westbury, Wiltshire, where his father was engaged in business as a grocer and confectioner. About a quarter of a century ago the present Mayor became Agent to the Liberal Party in the Monmouth Boroughs, a position which he still holds. Some sixteen years ago Mr. Brown first entered public life by becoming a member of the Board of Guardians. The following year he was elected to the Newport School Board where he held a seat for twelve years, three of which were spent in the chair. At the triennial election in 1897 he retired on account of a serious illness, and on the advice of his medical attendant, who urged him to relinquish some of his public duties, which were about that time very onerous. Mr. Brown entered the Corporation as a member of the South Ward before the Borough was created a County Borough, as a representative of that Ward on the Monmouthshire County Council. This was in the early part of 1889, and in November of the same year he was returned to the Borough Council on the town being made a County Borough. He was Chairman of the Lighting and Traffic Committee for some years. The functions of that Committee have now been merged into the Watch, Electricity, and Tramways Committee, and Mr. Brown is its Vice-Chairman. The most important position the Mayor occupies as a Guardian, is that of Chairman to the Finance Committee, whilst his name appears as a member of many of the other committees. In matters religious, the Methodist Free Church, Hill Street, has no stronger adherent than the subject of this sketch. For many years he has been one of the most prominent laymen of that body. Thoroughly conscientious in everything he takes in hand, a shrewd man of business, and courteous to all with whom he comes in contact, Mr. Brown has all the qualities to make his year of office a successful one, and there cannot be any doubt that he will do so.
Source: Johns's 1901 Newport Directory
