Clinton Capers Brown was born in Barnwell, S.C. on February 2, 1852 to Col. B.H. and Clementine H. Brown. He transferred to Furman University (1870-1871) from Washington and Lee University, and then attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Greenville, S.C. (1872-1874). A Degree of Doctor of Divinity conferred by Furman University in 1858.

He was ordained at Barnwell July 26, 1874; pastor of First Baptist Church, Sumter, S.C. (1875-1914). Professor of Latin and mathematics at Sumter Eclectic Female College (1886-1889); prominent in the S.C. Baptist Board for the Relief of Aged and Indigent Ministers (1890-1921); involved with the Negro Preacher Fund; a prolific writer.

Brown was married three times; first to Corry Montgomery (1852–1879) of Greenville; second to Sallie Wright (1857–1913) in 1878, and third to Mrs. Lucy Walsh Rogers (1868–1944). Brown died June 14, 1921 in Richmond, Va.