Thomas McKean

Thomas McKean
Name	Thomas McKean
Caption	Portrait by Charles Willson Peale
Order	2nd
Office	Governor of Pennsylvania
Term start	December 17, 1799
Term end	December 20, 1808
Predecessor	Thomas Mifflin
Successor	Simon Snyder
Office2	President of the Continental Congress
Term start2	July 10, 1781
Term end2	November 5, 1781
Predecessor2	Samuel Huntington
Successor2	John Hanson
Birth date	March 19, 1734
Birth place	New London Township, Pennsylvania
Death date	24 June 1817
Death place	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Party	Federalist
Spouse	Mary Borden, Sarah Armitage
Children	11
Alma mater	Rev. Alison's Academy

Thomas McKean was a prominent American lawyer, politician, and Founding Father who played a critical role in the movement for independence and the early governance of the United States. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress from Delaware, where he signed the Continental Association, the Articles of Confederation, and the Declaration of Independence. His long and multifaceted career also included service as President of the Continental Congress, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, and a contentious two-term Governor of Pennsylvania.

Early life and education

Thomas McKean was born in New London Township, Pennsylvania, to William McKean and Letitia Finney, both of Ulster Scots descent. He received a classical education at the Rev. Alison's Academy in New London, studying alongside future notables like George Read. After his studies, he moved to New Castle, Delaware, to read law under his cousin, attorney David Finney, and was admitted to the bar in Delaware in 1754. His early legal practice was successful, establishing him within the powerful political networks of the Lower Counties on the Delaware.

Political career

McKean's political career began early, with his election to the Delaware General Assembly in 1762. He quickly rose to prominence, serving as a delegate to the Stamp Act Congress in 1765, where he served on the committee that drafted the petitions to King George III and the British Parliament. He was appointed Deputy Attorney General for Sussex County and later served as a customs collector for the Port of New Castle. His legal acumen and political skill led to his repeated election as a delegate to the Continental Congress beginning in 1774, representing the interests of Delaware amidst growing tensions with Great Britain.

American Revolution

During the American Revolution, McKean was an ardent and active patriot. In the Continental Congress, he served on numerous critical committees, including the Committee of Secret Correspondence and the Marine Committee. His most famous act was his signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776; according to some accounts, he signed it in 1777. He simultaneously held the position of President of Delaware in 1777, helping to organize the state's defense, and served as a colonel in the New Castle County militia. McKean also played a key judicial role, helping to draft the Delaware Constitution of 1776 and serving as Chief Justice of Pennsylvania's Supreme Court from 1777 to 1799, where he ruled on important cases arising from the war.

Governor of Pennsylvania

Elected as a Federalist, McKean served as Governor of Pennsylvania from 1799 to 1808. His tenure was marked by significant political strife, including clashes with the state legislature over fiscal policy and his use of the veto power. He faced down domestic unrest, most notably during the Fries's Rebellion, where he called out the militia. His administration saw the foundation of the Pennsylvania State University and continued development of the state's infrastructure, but his increasingly autocratic style and break with the Federalists to form a coalition with the Democratic-Republican Party alienated many former allies.

Later life and death

After leaving the governorship, McKean retired from public office but remained an influential elder statesman in Philadelphia. He continued to practice law and engaged in various business and real estate ventures. He was a founding trustee of the University of Pennsylvania and maintained an active correspondence with other revolutionary leaders. He died in Philadelphia on June 24, 1817, at the age of 83, and was interred in the vault of First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia.

Legacy

Thomas McKean's legacy is that of a tireless and often controversial architect of American independence and early jurisprudence. Counties in Pennsylvania (McKean County), Illinois (McKean County), and North Dakota (McKean County), as well as the borough of McKean, Pennsylvania, are named in his honor. His signature on the Declaration of Independence and his leadership roles in the Continental Congress, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and as Governor of Pennsylvania cement his place among the key political figures of the founding era, remembered for his staunch principles and formidable intellect.

Category:1734 births Category:1817 deaths Category:American Founding Fathers Category:Governors of Pennsylvania Category:Signers of the United States Declaration of Independence Category:Continental Congressmen from Delaware