Joseph Borden McKean (July 28, 1764 – September 3, 1826) was a distinguished Philadelphia lawyer and judge. He served as state Pennsylvania Attorney General when appointed by his father, Governor

Thomas McKean Thomas McKean (March 19, 1734June 24, 1817) was an American lawyer, politician, and Founding Father. During the American Revolution, he was a Delaware delegate to the Continental Congress, where he signed the Continental Association, the United ...

, and like his father, also served as presiding judge of the District Court of Philadelphia

Biography and career

McKean was the first child of Thomas McKean and Mary Borden. Mary died in 1773 when Joseph was 9, and upon remarriage, the family moved to Philadelphia. During the War the elder McKean was a prominent patriot—among other things, he was a signer of the

Declaration of Independence A declaration of independence or declaration of statehood or proclamation of independence is an assertion by a polity in a defined territory that it is independent and constitutes a state. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the ...

—and the family was given the house of a vacated Brit. McKean attended the

Academy of Philadelphia The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn or UPenn) is a private research university in Philadelphia. It is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and is ranked among the highest-regarded universi ...

, graduating in 1782. He was admitted to the bar and began practicing law in 1785. McKean served as state Attorney General (1800–1808) appointed by his father, the governor, and later served (1814–1826) as a justice of the city of Philadelphia District Court, including two terms as presiding judge (1818–1821, 1825–1826). In 1824, McKean was elected as a member to the

American Philosophical Society The American Philosophical Society (APS), founded in 1743 in Philadelphia, is a scholarly organization that promotes knowledge in the sciences and humanities through research, professional meetings, publications, library resources, and communit ...

. Like his father, McKean served as a trustee of the

University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn or UPenn) is a private research university in Philadelphia. It is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and is ranked among the highest-regarded universitie ...

(1794–1826). They served jointly until his father's death in 1817.

Marriage and children

McKean married Hannah Miles in 1786. Their children were Mary, Catherine,Died young. Samuel Miles, Thomas, Joseph Kirkbridge, Elizabeth, Ann, Letitia, William Wister, Letitia Henrietta, Caroline, Adeline Julia. Joseph would study law, but not practice, ending up working for the Federal Treasury. William joined the navy at a young age, and ended up as an officer with the rank of Commodore. Hannah survived her husband by 19 years, dying in 1845.

References

External links

University of Pennsylvania brief biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:McKean, Joseph 1764 births 1826 deaths People from New Castle, Delaware University of Pennsylvania alumni Lawyers from Philadelphia Pennsylvania Attorneys General 19th-century American lawyers