Robert S. Brown

Robert Sirelle Brown (December 8, 1863 – April 4, 1927) was the first black physician in Minneapolis.

Biography Robert Sirelle Brown was born on December 8, 1863, in Staunton, Virginia. He graduated from Bennett Medical College in Chicago with honors in 1895. He practiced medicine in Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he married Julia Perrin. The couple had four children together. In 1892, Brown married again to Anna Webb in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Brown received local support from community. The St. Peter African Methodist Episcopal Church threw him a welcome event, which was covered in The Appeal. Brown opened a medical practice downtown where he was open seven days a week. He was involved in many local organizations including the Elks, the Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias. In 1921, he was elected the president of the local NAACP chapter.