This sword belonged to John Marshall Brown of Portland. He may have used it during the Civil War.
Brown graduated from Bowdoin College in 1860. He studied law, but was commissioned as First Lieutenant and Adjutant of the 20th Regiment, Maine Volunteer Infantry, in 1862 before he was admitted to the bar.
In June 1863, Brown was named Assistant Adjutant General of Volunteers with the First Brigade, 11th Corps.
He returned to Portland and became a prominent businessman and civic leader.
