Henry E. Brown, Jr.

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Henry Brown, Jr.

United States Representative from South Carolina's 1st district
In office 2001-present
Preceded by	Mark Sanford
Succeeded by	Incumbent

Born	December 20, 1935 Bishopville, South Carolina
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Winifred Brown
Religion	Southern Baptist

Henry Edward Brown, Jr. (born December 20, 1935) is a politician from the U.S. state of South Carolina, currently representing the state's 1st Congressional district (map) in the United States House of Representatives. The district is based in Charleston and takes in almost all of the state's share of the Atlantic coastline (except for Beaufort and Hilton Head Island, which are in the 2nd District).

Brown was born in Bishopville, South Carolina. After graduating from high school, Brown entered the IBM Management and Techinical School. He then worked for the Piggly Wiggly grocery chain, becoming a vice president. Brown also spent 10 years as a member of the National Guard.

Brown was elected to the Hanahan city council in 1981 and he was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1984 as a Republican from Berkeley County. When the Republicans gained control of the state house in 1994, Brown became chairman of the Ways and Means committee and claimed credit for the largest tax cut in state history.

When 1st District Congressman Mark Sanford decided to honor a pledge to serve no more than six years in the House, Brown ran for the seat, passing out "Oh Henry" candy bars during the primary election as a way to increase his name recognition. He won the runoff and easily won the general election. The 1st has been held by Republicans since 1981 and has become so heavily Republican that Brown didn't have any opposition from the Democratic Party in 2002 or 2004.