Allan McLane was born on August 8, 1746, in Philadelphia. As he wrote in his diary, of parents "of the midling grade, " whose names he failed to set down. Whatever their station in life, his father accumulated an ample property which, on his death in 1775, he left to his son.
In 1774, McLane settled in Kent County, near Smyrna. At the outbreak of the Revolution, he hastened to aid the Virginians against Lord Dunmore, fighting at Great Bridge and about Norfolk. Returning North, he was commissioned adjutant in Cæsar Rodney's regiment of volunteers, which saw active service at Long Island. When Col. John Patton's Additional Continental Regiment was created, McLane was made one of its captains (January 1777), and in this capacity proved himself an independent and dashing officer of the most gallant type. During the British occupation of Philadelphia he commanded a body of light troops upon the lines for general reconnoitering purposes, but chiefly as "market stoppers, " to prevent the smuggling of provisions into the city by Loyalists. Once, while scouting for a reconnoitering expedition of Lafayette's, he discovered that the enemy were about to surround the General. Acting with celerity, he warned him in time to prevent his capture. When the British evacuated Philadelphia, McLane, being anxious about his properties, and by special permission from Washington, was the first to enter the city. His exceptional scouting abilities were utilized by Benedict Arnold, who was given command in Philadelphia, to follow the enemy movements before and after the battle of Monmouth. In his contacts with Arnold, McLane came to doubt that officer's patriotism, but was apparently unable to convince Washington of the truth of his charges. When Colonel Patton's regiment was disbanded in June 1779, McLane, at his own and Major Henry Lee's request, was given command of the dismounted dragoons in Lee's partisan corps. One of his first assignments under Lee was to reconnoiter the approaches to Stony Point in order to discover the best route for Wayne's celebrated attack. The association which both McLane and Lee seemed to desire soon ended in jealousy and discord. Lee's corps, augmented, became the famous "Lee's Legion" and was dispatched South to join Greene, but McLane was detached to purchase supplies in Maryland while a captain, his junior in the same corps, was raised to a majority. McLane wrote in strong terms to Lee, threatening to resign. The letter was forwarded to Washington, who praised McLane highly, saying that he deserved much, but stated that scores of other officers in the army with longer Continental service than McLane also deserved promotion. McLane was then retired on half-pay.
Although the subject was a source of bitterness to him for the remainder of his life, he prevailed upon Washington to attach him to Steuben's command in Virginia, which he joined the last of February. In the closing phase of the war his reconnoitering ability was displayed in acquainting the Comte de Grasse and Washington of the movements of the enemy fleet near the Chesapeake. After the Revolution, his patrimony swallowed up by his war debts, he entered into a trading venture on the Delaware River with Robert Morris, and in September 1789 was appointed marshal of Delaware, which office was exchanged in 1797 for the more lucrative post of collector of Wilmington. Intercession of powerful friends with Jefferson tided him over the pressure of Republicans for his office in 1801, and he retained the place until his death. He also held various stateoffices, being member of the Delaware House of Representatives in 1785 and in 1791, when he was chosen speaker; and justice of the peace in 1793. During the War of 1812, he was in charge of the defenses of Wilmington.
member of the Privy Council (1788)
In 1769, McLane married Rebecca Wells, daughter of the sheriff of Kent County, Delware.
