Background
He was born in New York City, to merchant Captain Elias Kent Kane and Deborah VanSchelluyne of Dutchess County, New York Young Kane attended public schools, then Yale College, from which he graduated in 1813.
He was born in New York City, to merchant Captain Elias Kent Kane and Deborah VanSchelluyne of Dutchess County, New York Young Kane attended public schools, then Yale College, from which he graduated in 1813.
After he studied law and was admitted to the bar, Kane commenced practice in Nashville, Tennessee, and then moved to Kaskaskia, Illinois in 1814.
He became allied with Jesse B. Thomas, a slaveholder who had secured the job of judge of the Territory of Illinois. At the convention, the Thomas/Kane faction unsuccessfully tried to add language permitting slavery in the new state (where it had been forbidden by the Northwest Ordinance of 1787). However, that proposal was defeated by a faction whose leaders included Baptist John Mason Peck, Methodist Peter Cartwright, Quaker James Lemen, publisher Hooper Warren and future governor Edward Coles.
In that year, Kane led proslavery forces in the Illinois House of Representatives which attempted to call another constitutional convention, but was again defeated by a coalition led by Governor Coles, United States. Representative Cook and religious leaders of many denominations.
However, fellow legislators twice appointed Kane to the United States Senate. He served from March 4, 1825, until his death in Washington, District of Columbia, in 1835.
One son, Elias Kent Kane, Junior. (1822-1853), served in the United States Army.
On January 16, 1836, the Illinois legislature formed a new county, Kane, and named it to honor the recently deceased Senator, Elias Kent Kane.
Member Illinois Ho; member United States Senate (Democrat) from Illinois:, 1825-1835</td><tr><td class="label_burgverd11px"><b>Death</b></td></tr><tr><td> Died Washington, District of Columbia, December