Thomas McKean

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Thomas McKean (March 19, 1734 – June 24, 1817) was an American lawyer and legislator from New Castle, Delaware, and Philadelphia.

During the American Revolution, he served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, where he signed the United States Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation.

McKean served as President of Congress.

He was a member of the Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties at various times.

McKean served as President of Delaware, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, and Governor of Pennsylvania.

He is also known for his numerous public positions.

Early life and family

Thomas McKean (pronounced mc-CANE) was born in Pennsylvania in 1734 to William McKean and Letitia Finney. His father, a tavern keeper in New London, was an Irish-born Protestant who immigrated to Pennsylvania as children from Ballymoney, County Antrim, Ireland.

Mary Borden was his first wife. They married in 1763 and spent at 22 The Strand in New Castle, Delaware. Joseph, Robert, Elizabeth, Letitia, Mary, and Mary were among the six children. Mary Borden McKean died in 1773 and is buried at Immanuel Episcopal Church in New Castle. Letitia McKean married Dr. George Buchan, the mother of Admiral Franklin Buchanan.

Sarah Armitage was McKean's second wife. They married in 1774, lived on the northeast corner of Third and Pine Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and had four children, Sarah, Thomas, Sophia, and Maria. They were members of the New Castle Presbyterian Church and the First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. Sarah McKean married Spanish diplomat Carlos Martnez de Irujo, the 1st Marquis of Casa Irujo; their son, Carlos Martn de Irujo, as his father, would later become Spain's prime minister.

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Colonial career

McKean's education began at the Reverend Francis Allison's New London Academy. He began learning law under his uncle, David Finney, at the age of sixteen. He was admitted to the lower Counties' bar in 1755, and the Province of Pennsylvania the following year. He was appointed deputy attorney general for Sussex County in 1756. He appeared at the 1762-1763 session and the 1775-176 session, as its speaker in 1772 to 1783. He served as a judge of Common Pleas from July 1765 until 1771, and as the customs collector at New Castle. His Court of Common Pleas became the first such court in the colonies to have a rule for all the court's proceedings to be recorded on unstamped paper in November 1765. McKean was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1768.

The eighteenth century Delaware was divided into two main political groups known as the "Court Party" and the "Country Party" in a loose political clique. The majority Court Party, which was largely Anglican, was the most popular in Kent and Sussex counties, collaborated well with the colonial Proprietary government, and favored peace with the British government. The majority of the minority Country Party, which was also known as "Scotch-Irish" in America, was centered in New Castle County and quickly argued for independence from the British. Under the British Penal Laws, "no taxation without representation" had arised in Ireland's north, which denied Presbyterians and Catholics the right to vote for members of Parliament. McKean was the epitome of the Country Party politician, and he was just as good as the country party's leader. He continued to work in collaboration with Caesar Rodney from Kent County and in opposition to his friend and neighbor, George Read, who died on May 27.

McKean and Caesar Rodney represented Delaware at the Stamp Act Congress of 1765. McKean suggested that the voting procedure that the Continental Congress later adopted was modified: every colony, regardless of size or population, would have one vote. The decision set the precedent, the Articles of Confederation Congress approved the procedure, and the principle of state equality has continued in the composition of the United States Senate.

McKean became one of the Stamp Act Congress' most influential members straight away. He was on the committee that brought the memorial to parliament and, with John Rutledge and Philip Livingston, the committee reconvenes its proceedings. When the business session came to an end, Timothy Ruggles, the president of the body, and a few other more cautious individuals refused to sign the memorial of rights and grievances. McKean arose and asked the chair that the president give his reasons for his refusal. Ruggles remarked that "it was against his conviction" after refusing at first. McKean then protested the use of the word "conscience" so loudly and long that Ruggles was denied a challenge and accepted in the presence of the Congress. Ruggles did not arrive at daybreak the next morning, so the duel did not take place.

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