John Nicholas Brown (1900-1979) was born in New York and was the son of John Nicholas Brown and Natalie Bayard Dresser. His grandfather, John Carter Brown, was an avid book collector. He passed on his passion for collecting to his son and later to his grandson, who continued to acquire works of art. Professionally, he worked for the U.S. Army, where he served as a cultural advisor. His main responsibilities included the identification and restitution of works of art that had been plundered by the Nazi regime during World War II, thus contributing to international efforts to recover cultural heritage. He also maintained an active participation in the cultural and institutional life of the state of Rhode Island. He was a member of the board of directors of the Rhode Island Foundation, where he promoted initiatives aimed at disseminating culture and the arts in the region.