Brownsville was established in 1828 and named for Jacob Brown, Commanding General of the United States Army from 1821 until his death in 1828 at age 53. He defended the New York state frontier against the British in the War of 1812, engaging them at Ogdensburg, Sackett's Harbor, Chippewa, Ft. Erie, and Niagara. Gen. Brown died in Washington, D.C. on February 24th.