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= James Brown II = James Brown II (1698-1739) was born in Providence, which was then part of Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations which is now known as Rhode Island. His father was Elder James Brown (1666-1716), a pastor on the First Baptist Church; his mother was Mary (Harris) Brown.

Career
James II established himself early in the mercantile business, trading in rum, molasses, slaves and less controversial wares. He seems to have been the owner of only one slave ship, the Mary, which sailed for Africa in 1736, sold its cargo in the West Indies and then returned to Providence.

The remainder of James Brown's business was extremely successful. Upon his death, he left a considerable fortune to his sons, who followed him in business under the tutelage of their uncle Obadiah Brown (1712-1762).

Family
James II married Hope Power (1702-1792), daughter of Nicholas, in 1723. They had six children. Mary (1731-1795), the one daughter, married Dr. David Vanderlight. James III (1724-1750), the eldest son, was a sea captain who died young. The other four were Nicholas (1729-1791), Joseph (1733-1785), John Brown (1736-1803) and Moses Brown (1738-1836 ).

Legacy
James Brown II's son John went on to become a politician. John and Moses donated land for the moving of Brown University, at that time known as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations to Providence, Rhode Island, in 1770. Moses Brown donated 43 acres of land during the relocation of the Moses Brown School from Warren, Rhode Island to Providence Rhode Island in 1814.