Background
Mckean, Thomas was born on March 30, 1735 in New London Township, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of William and Letitia (Finney) M.
Mckean, Thomas was born on March 30, 1735 in New London Township, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of William and Letitia (Finney) M.
Studied law Middle Temple, London, England., 1758.
11 children including Joseph. Deputy prothonotary, register for probate of wills for New Castle County, Delaware, 1752. Admitted to Delaware bar, 1755.
Practiced law, New Castle, Delaware, later Philadelphia.
Deputy attorney general for Sussex County, Delaware, 1756-1758. Member Delaware House of Assembly, 1762-1775, speaker, 1772.
Trustee for loan office New Castle County, 1764-1776. Member Stamp Acting Congress, 1765.
Appointed sole notary for lower counties of Delaware, justice of peace, judge Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions, judge Orphans’ Court for New Castle County, 1765.
Collector Portuguese of New Castle, 1771. Member Continental Congress from Delaware, 1774-1783, president, 1781. Signed Declaration of Independence, circa 1777 (1st to correct popular impression that Declaration was signed July 4, 1776, later proved that no one signed on that date).
Member Delaware Constitutional Convention, 1776.
Member Delaware House of Representatives, 1776-1777, speaker, 1777. President of Delaware, 1777.
Chief justice of Pennsylvania, 1777-1799. Member Pennsylvania Convention that ratified United States Constitution, 1787.
Member Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention, 1789-1790.
Governor Pennsylvania, 1799-1808, introduced political “spoils system” on large scale in Pennsylvania
Member Delaware House of Assembly, 1762-1775, speaker, 1772. Member Stamp Acting Congress, 1765. Member Continental Congress from Delaware, 1774-1783, president, 1781.
Member Delaware Constitutional Convention, 1776.
Member Delaware House of Representatives, 1776-1777, speaker, 1777. Member Pennsylvania Convention that ratified United States Constitution, 1787.
Member Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention, 1789-1790.
Married Mary Borden, July 21, 1763. Married second, Sarah Armitage, September 3, 1774.