Patrick Henry Brittan
Encyclopedia
General Patrick Henry Brittan was born in Thornton Gap
, Virginia
on September 21, 1815.
in Washington, D.C.
and then migrated to Columbus, Georgia
in 1839 to practice his trade. He married Ora Williams of Morgan County, Georgia
in that same year. They would have nine children together. They moved to LaFayette, Alabama in 1843, where he established the LaFayette Tribune.
He relocated again in 1847 to Montgomery, Alabama
, where he bought a half-interest in the Montgomery Advertiser
. He maintained his interest in the paper throughout several partnerships. In 1853, the Advertiser became the first newspaper in the state to be published using a steam-powered
printing press
. He started another newspaper, the Montgomery Messenger, in 1856. It was a small daily that he merged with the Confederation in 1858, in a new joint venture with two other partners. It was in this year that his new home at 507 Columbus Street was completed. The Patrick Henry Brittan House
is a historic Italianate
style house in Montgomery. Completed in 1858, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
on December 13, 1979.
Brittan served as quartermaster general
of Alabama from 1857 until 1859. In 1859, he was elected as the 10th Secretary of State of Alabama
. He served in this capacity from 1860 until the end of the Civil War
.
.
Thornton Gap
Thornton Gap is a wind gap located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia separating the Shenandoah Valley from the Piedmont region of the state.-History:...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
on September 21, 1815.
Biography
He learned printingPrinting
Printing is a process for reproducing text and image, typically with ink on paper using a printing press. It is often carried out as a large-scale industrial process, and is an essential part of publishing and transaction printing....
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and then migrated to Columbus, Georgia
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
in 1839 to practice his trade. He married Ora Williams of Morgan County, Georgia
Morgan County, Georgia
Morgan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 15,457. The 2005 Census Estimate shows a population of 17,492. The county seat is Madison, Georgia.-Geography:...
in that same year. They would have nine children together. They moved to LaFayette, Alabama in 1843, where he established the LaFayette Tribune.
He relocated again in 1847 to Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
, where he bought a half-interest in the Montgomery Advertiser
Montgomery Advertiser
The Montgomery Advertiser is a daily newspaper located in Montgomery, Alabama. It was founded in 1829.- History:The newspaper began publication in 1829 as The Planter's Gazette. It became the Montgomery Advertiser in 1833. In 1903, R.F. Hudson, a young Alabama newspaperman, joined the staff of the...
. He maintained his interest in the paper throughout several partnerships. In 1853, the Advertiser became the first newspaper in the state to be published using a steam-powered
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
printing press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
. He started another newspaper, the Montgomery Messenger, in 1856. It was a small daily that he merged with the Confederation in 1858, in a new joint venture with two other partners. It was in this year that his new home at 507 Columbus Street was completed. The Patrick Henry Brittan House
Patrick Henry Brittan House
The Patrick Henry Brittan House, also known as the Brittan-Dennis House, is a historic Italianate style house in Montgomery, Alabama. The one-story brick house was completed in 1858 by Patrick Henry Brittan, 10th Secretary of State of Alabama. It was added to the National Register of Historic...
is a historic Italianate
Italianate architecture
The Italianate style of architecture was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. In the Italianate style, the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century Italian Renaissance architecture, which had served as inspiration for both Palladianism and...
style house in Montgomery. Completed in 1858, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on December 13, 1979.
Brittan served as quartermaster general
Quartermaster general
A Quartermaster general is the staff officer in charge of supplies for a whole army.- The United Kingdom :In the United Kingdom, the Quartermaster-General to the Forces is one of the most senior generals in the British Army...
of Alabama from 1857 until 1859. In 1859, he was elected as the 10th Secretary of State of Alabama
Secretary of State of Alabama
The Secretary of State of Alabama is one of the constitutional officers of the U.S. state of Alabama. The office actually predates the statehood of Alabama, dating back to the Alabama Territory. From 1819 to 1901, the Secretary of State served a two-year term until the State Constitution was...
. He served in this capacity from 1860 until the end of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Personal life
Brittan and his wife had nine children: Kate, Mary, Henry S., Emmett, Grattan, Lizzie B., Lucy, Sallie, and Belle. He died in Montgomery on March 18, 1868. Brittan was the uncle of the sculptor, William Randolph BarbeeWilliam Randolph Barbee
William Randolph Barbee was an American sculptor recognized for creating idealized, sentimental classical figures. Barbee's most notable works were the marble sculptures entitled Coquette and Fisher Girl.-Biography:...
.