Adam Mercer Brown was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania just north of Pittsburgh in 1826.

Upon his return to Pittsburgh, he was chosen as the first president of the Allegheny County Bar Association.

Adam Brown also became a common pleas judge and founded a bank.

Brown was appointed mayor in May 1901 and due to a commonwealth reorganization had his office retitled "recorder".

He was only to spend six brief months running the city, and stripped of his duties in November 1901.