Background
Mclane, Robert was born on June 23, 1815 in Wilmington, Delaware, United States. Son of Louis and Catherine (Milligan) Mclane.
Mclane, Robert was born on June 23, 1815 in Wilmington, Delaware, United States. Son of Louis and Catherine (Milligan) Mclane.
Graduated from the United States Military Academy, 1837.
Commissioned Second lieutenant artillery United States Army, 1837. Participated in Seminole War in Florida, 1837-1838. Served with Corps Topographical Engineers, 1838-1843, studied dikes and drainage in Europe, 1841.
Admitted to District of Columbia Bar, 1840, Baltimore bar, 1843. Practiced law in Baltimore. Member Maryland. House of Delegates, 1845.
Member United States House of Representatives (Democrat) from Maryland., 30th-31st congresses, 1847-1851, 46th-47th congresses, 1879-1883, Chairman of Commission on commerce, 1849. Counsel in contest of possession rights of quicksilver mine in Santa Clara Valley, 1851. Won 2 cases for Cornelius Vanderbilt (possession of steamship Pacific and transit route across Nicarague), also counsel to Western Pacific Railroad Company.
United States minister to China, 1853-1854, accredited as minister to Japan, Siam, Korea, Cochin China, tried to renew commercial treaty with China, 1854. Delegate from Maryland. to National Democratic Convention, Cincinnati, 1856, St. Louis, 1876. United States minister to Republic of Mexico, 1859-1860, recognized Benito Juarez, signed treaty of transit and commerce with Juarez government (not ratified by United States Senate), 1859.
Member Maryland. Senate, 1877-1878. Governor Maryland., 1883-1885. United States minister to France, 1885-1889, dealt with problem of rights of the United States naturalized citizen, born in France and compelled to serve in French Army.
Author: Reminiscences, 1827-1897, privately printed, 1903.
Author: Reminiscences, 1827-1897, privately printed, 1903.
Member Maryland. House of Delegates, 1845. Member United States House of Representatives (Democrat) from Maryland., 30th-31st congresses, 1847-1851, 46th-47th congresses, 1879-1883, Chairman of Commission on commerce, 1849. Member Maryland. Senate, 1877-1878.
Married Georgine Urquhart, 1841.