Francis H. Brownell

Francis Herbert Brownell
Francis Herbert Brownell
Born	Template:Birth date; Little Compton, Rhode Island, U.S.
Died	March 8, 1954 (aged 86); New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Attorney, entrepreneur, corporate executive
Years active	1890–1950
Known for	Legal and business leadership in Washington state and New York; executive roles at American Smelting & Refining Company; chairman of Seattle National Bank

Francis Herbert Brownell (April 21, 1867 – March 8, 1954) was a pioneering figure in Washington state, recognized for his roles as an attorney and entrepreneur with notable influence in Tacoma, Everett, Seattle, and New York. As a principal architect of Everett's development, he held positions including hospital board member, city library trustee, First National Bank director, and president of the Chamber of Commerce.

Beginning his legal profession in New York in 1890, Brownell relocated to Washington state in 1891 to pursue business ventures. His expertise lay in commercial and corporate law, where he represented prominent mining, railroad, and banking enterprises.

Subsequently, Brownell collaborated extensively with the Guggenheim family at the American Smelting & Refining Company, occupying executive roles from 1909 until his retirement in 1950. He joined the Seattle National Bank board in 1925 and advanced to chairman of directors. As the institution's second largest individual shareholder, he guided the bank through its 1929 consolidation into Seattle First National Bank.

Brownell also made substantial investments in real estate as well as the logging and lumber sectors across Seattle and Everett. His leadership spanned multiple industries including law, banking, copper, brass manufacturing, railroads, and more. Politically aligned with the Republicans, he maintained active participation in social circles through key organizations and fraternal groups. He and his wife were members of the Episcopalian faith.

Early life and family

Born on April 21, 1867, in Little Compton, Rhode Island, Francis Brownell descended from English settlers who arrived in Massachusetts in 1636. His great-grandfather served during the American Revolutionary War, while his grandfather was a member of the Rhode Island General Assembly. His father, Frederick Brownell, held positions as town clerk, treasurer, and state legislator in Rhode Island. Frederick married Ann Coggshall, a descendant of John Coggeshall, founder of the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Francis was their firstborn among four siblings.

Education

Brownell’s early education took place in public schools before earning a scholarship to attend Moses Brown School, from which he graduated in 1884. He pursued higher education at Brown University, supporting himself through tutoring while obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1888. He later enrolled at Columbia Law School to complete his legal studies.

Legal beginnings in New York and Washington

Launching his law career in New York City in June 1890, Brownell soon moved to Tacoma, Washington by August 1890 following Washington’s admission as a state. There he partnered with George A. Brown, an attorney who had been a nominee for the Nevada Supreme Court.

Practice in Everett, Washington

In 1891, Brownell and Brown shifted their law practice to Everett shortly after its establishment. When Brown departed for Nevada in 1895, Brownell continued alone until forming a partnership with J. A. Coleman in 1902 under the firm Brownell & Coleman. By 1903, they represented an influential clientele.

Focusing on Commercial law and Corporate law, Brownell acted on behalf of prominent Everett enterprises including the Everett Improvement Company, Everett Street Railway & Light Company, Everett Pulp & Paper Company, Puget Sound Reduction Company, Monte Cristo Railroad Company, First National Bank of Everett, American National Bank, Monte Cristo Mines, among various mining corporations.

During the political reforms of 1908—marked by the introduction of the first primary election statute—Brownell applied his legal acumen to support Judge W. W. Black’s campaign by interpreting and clarifying this new legislation.

His community involvement extended to serving on the Everett hospital board and acting as a city library trustee. Furthermore, he held directorship at the First National Bank of Everett and presided over the Everett Chamber of Commerce.

American Smelting and Refining Company

Brownell relocated to Seattle in 1905, where he continued practicing law and collaborated with the Guggenheim family on their smelting and refining ventures. By 1909, he had ascended to the presidency of the Federal Mining and Smelting Company, which had recently become part of the Guggenheims' American Smelting & Refining Company.

In 1919, Brownell moved to New York to assume an executive position within American Smelting & Refining Company. By 1925, the corporation had grown to be "the largest of its kind worldwide," operating smelting facilities throughout Mexico, South America, and North America.

Throughout his tenure, Brownell held numerous leadership roles including general counsel, president, chairman of the finance committee, first vice president, chairman of the board, and ultimately chief executive. In 1925, as chairman of the finance committee, he was instrumental in safeguarding Guggenheim interests during a corporate conflict involving Karl Eilers.

Seattle National Bank

Although primarily based in New York after joining the Guggenheims, Brownell maintained significant business involvement in Seattle. In 1925, he was appointed to the board of Seattle National Bank. Daniel Kelleher, then chairman and Brownell’s close associate as well as the bank’s largest individual shareholder, commended him as a "successful business executive" who contributed substantially to the bank’s growth and international operations. Brownell became its second-largest individual shareholder.

In 1929, Brownell succeeded Kelleher as chairman of the board. That same year, under his guidance, Seattle National Bank merged with Seattle First National Bank.

Additional Roles and Investments

Brownell also engaged in real estate investments in Everett and Seattle, alongside holdings in logging and lumber enterprises.

In New York, he served on executive committees and boards for prominent corporations such as Chase National Bank, General Cable Corporation, Republic Brass Corporation, Northern Pacific Railway, Mortgage Bond Company, and American Sugar Refining Company. He held the presidency of the Washington State Bar Association and chaired Revere Copper & Brass Incorporation's board.

As president of the Copper Institute and chairman of Copper Exporters Incorporation, Brownell played a notable role during a copper pricing dispute in 1929. He was acknowledged as a "distinguished financier and business leader in the Puget Sound area."

Retirement and Subsequent Activities

Brownell retired from his business pursuits in 1950. Prior to retirement, he authored the brochure Gold and the Monetary Problem in 1949, which offered a critical analysis of monetary policy and fluctuations in gold prices.

Affiliations

During his university years, Brownell became a member of Alpha Delta Phi and Phi Beta Kappa. Later affiliations included Masonic Peninsular Lodge No. 95 in Everett, Knights of Pythias, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, as well as co-founding the Snohomish County Agricultural Society. He was also active in social clubs such as Seattle's Country Club, Seattle Golf Club, Rainier Club, and maintained membership in the Washington State Bar Association.

Personal life, family and death

In 1894, Brownell wed Josephine Noble. Together, they had two sons: Francis H. Brownell Jr., who advanced to the role of vice president at Seattle National Bank, and Kenneth Cooke Brownell, who held positions as president and chairman of American Smelting & Refining Company (Asarco) and subsequently Federal Mining and Smelting Company.

Brownell constructed a family residence in Everett in 1902. The household later relocated to New York while also maintaining a home on Bainbridge Island, a location favored by members of the Seattle Country Club. The family practiced Episcopalianism actively, with Josephine playing a significant role within the church community. Politically, Brownell was aligned with the Republican Party.

He passed away on March 8, 1954, at his residence in New York following an extended illness.

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