Born in Philipsburg, Montana, Brown received a Bachelor of Laws from the Alexander Blewett III School of Law at the University of Montana in 1916.

He was a contract miner for the Anaconda Copper Mining Company in Butte, Montana in 1925, returning to private practice in Butte from 1925 to 1945.

He was an assistant county attorney of Silver Bow County, Montana from 1932 to 1934, and was then an Assistant United States Attorney of the District of Montana from 1934 to 1945.

[1] On March 12, 1945, Brown was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Montana vacated by Judge James H. Baldwin.

He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 27, 1945, and received his commission on April 7, 1945, serving thereafter until his death on April 2, 1948.