Born in 1931 in Columbus to Thomas Newton and Irene Hankinson Brown, he attended Denison University and graduated in 1953, with a bachelor’s degree. In 1956, Brown earned his law degree from the University of Michigan, where he was Phi Alpha Delta and served on the Law Review from 1955 to 1956.

After graduation, Brown joined the firm of Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease as associate attorney for a short period before entering the military. He served in the Army Judge Advocates General office from 1957 to 1959, entering as a first lieutenant and reaching captain in 1959, while serving in the Defense Appellate Division of the Pentagon. In 1959, Brown was awarded the Commendation Medal and the Ribbon Medal pendant. In 1960, Brown returned to Vorys, where he spent the next four years serving as an arbitrator in complex litigation cases. In 1965, he became a partner, but left the firm in 1982 to devote time to his writing.

In his first foray into public life, Brown was defeated in his bid for the 58th district of th