Oliver Brown (American activist)

Oliver Brown
Undated photo of Brown
Born
Oliver L. Brown

(1918-08-02)August 2, 1918
DiedJune 20, 1961 (1961-06-21) (aged 42)
Topeka, Kansas U.S.
EducationTheology
OccupationAfrican Methodist Episcopal pastor
Known forBrown v. Board of Education
SpouseLeola Brown (date of marriage unknown)
Children3, including Linda Carol Brown

Oliver Leon Brown (August 2, 1918 – June 20, 1961) was an American welder and episcopal pastor who was the plaintiff in the landmark 1954 U.S. Supreme Court case Oliver Brown, et al. v. Board of Education of Topeka, et al. In 1959, he was tenured as pastor of the city’s Benton Avenue AME Church from 1959 until his death in 1961.