Chapter Eight
continued

by: Stanley L. Klos

Published by Evisum, Inc Copyright 2004 All Rights Reserved including the rights of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

Thomas McKean
2nd President of the United States
in Congress Assembled
July 10, 1781 to November 5, 1781

Signer of the Declaration of Independence 

On October the 31st Thomas McKean wrote to George Washington:

It affords me ineffable pleasure to present to your Excellency the Thanks of the United States in Congress assembled, for the distinguished services you have rendered to your Country, and particularly for the'conquest of Lord Cornwallis and the British Garrisons of York and Gloucester, and the wisdom and prudence manifested in the Capitulation. You have herewith inclosed a copy of the Act of Congress passed on this occasion upon the 29th instant, which fully expresses the sentiments with which they are impressed by this glorious event. Words fail me when I attempt to bestow my small tribute of thanks and praise to a Character so eminent for wisdom, courage and patriotism, & one who appears to be no less the Favorite of Heaven than of his Country; I shall only therefore beg you to be assured, that you are held in the most grateful remembrance; and with a peculiar veneration, by all the wise and good in these United States.

That you may long possess this happiness; that you may be enabled speedily to annihilate the British power in America, which you have so effectually broken by this last capital blow; that you may be ever hailed The Deliverer of your Country and enjoy every blessing Heaven can bestow, is the sincere and ardent Prayer of one, who professes himself to be, with every sentiment of regard and all possible attachment, Sir, Your Excellency's Most obedient and devoted humble Servant,

Tho M:Kean, President

P.S. A proclamation recommending a day of thanksgiving & prayer is enclosed for your information"

Also on the 31st President McKean drafted and sent this letter to the Comte de Grasse

The Thanks of the United States in Congress assembled is the highest honor that any of their citizens can receive for the most distinguished services. I feel myself pecu­liarly happy in being the instrument of conveying these Thanks to your Excellency in Obedience to their Act of the 29th instant, a copy of which I have the honor to inclose herewith.(1) Be pleased therefore to accept, what in the name of the United States of America in Congress assembled I most cheerfully give you, Their Thanks for the dis­play of your skill and bravery in attacking and defeating the British Fleet off the Bay of Chesapeake, and for your zeal and alacrity in rendering with the Fleet under your command the most effectual and distinguished aid & support to the operations of the allied Army in Virginia.

I will only add, Sir, that your name will be ever dear to the good people of these States as long as gratitude is a virtue. Your wisdom, your attachment to the essential inter­ests of this country, your effectual completion of the wishes of your Sovereign, and your whole conduct justly endear you to us, and intitle you to every mark of honor that we can possibly confer upon you. May you long retain the smiles and approbation of your Prince, and of all good men, and enjoy all the happiness this world can afford.

President Thomas McKean did not forget to honor the other commanding area generals writing these three letters in his final days as President of Congress, Chief Justice and President of the United States of America:

Thomas McKean to Benjamin Lincoln:

"Sir, Philadelphia, October 31 st. 1781.

 

Inclosed you will receive the copy of an Act of Congress of the 30th instant; by which
you will observe that you are honored with a new mark of their confidence.
You will likewise receive the copy of an Act of the 7th February last, respecting the

 

Powers & duty of the Secretary at war.
They are, you will readily conceive, great and important. But the reflection is pleasing
that the abilities of the person elected are equal to the arduous Task. The copy of an

 

Act of the 1st instant is also inclosed for your information. Give me leave to congrat-
ulate you on this occasion, and to request your speedy determination and answer.
I have the honor to be, with very great respect, sir, Your most obedient & most hum-

 

ble servant, Tho M:Kean President"

 

Thomas McKean to Nathanael Greene -

"Sir Philadelphia, November 2d. 1781. I had the honor to receive your dispatches of the lst,2d,3d, 5th & 11th Septr. By Captain Pierce and to lay them before Congress on the 18th last, being the day on which they came to hand. You will receive inclosed herewith the copy of an Act of Congress of the 29th last month respecting the Battle at the Eutaw Springs in South Carolina and also a Proclamation recommending the thirteenth day of December next to be observed as a Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer throughout the United States.

In obedience to the former I am happy in having another opportunity of testifying the high sense that Congress entertain of the services you have rendered your Country, particularly in the well fought Battle of the eighth day of September last.

I am to present to you, Sir, and do hereby most cheerfully present you the Thanks of the United States of America in Congress assembled for your wise, decisive and mag­nanimous conduct in the Action of the eighth of September last near the Eutaw Springs in South Carolina, in which with a force inferior in number to that of the Enemy you obtained a most signal victory.

Accept also my congratulations on the conquest of the Garrisons of York & Gloucester under the command of Lieutenant General Earl Cornwallis, who on the l9th of October last surrendered Prisoners of war to his Excellency the Commander in Chief of the Allied Army. 

I am, Sir, with very great respect, Your most obedient, humble servant, Tho M:Kean President"

Thomas McKean to William Heath -

"Sir, Philadelphia, November 3d. 1781. Enclosed herewith I have the honor to send you a Proclamation for a day of Thanksgiving and Prayer throughout the United States. I most heartily congratulate you on the conquest of Lord Cornwallis and the Garrisons of York & Gloucester under his command. The power of Britain in these States is now broken, I trust it will soon be annihilated. Our internal enemies are struck with horror and despair, and I flatter my self this event will appear so important in Europe as to induce the wavering Powers connected with us in the war speedily to acknowledge our Independence,

and to incline our Enemies to listen to reasonable terms of peace. I take this oppor­tunity of acknowledging the receipt of your letters of the 9th, 16th, 24th, 27th and 30th

of October, the two last of which came to hand last night.(1) We have no accounts of either of the Fleets since they sailed, nor have we yet received the returns of the Prisoners &c taken with General Cornwallis.

I am, Sir, with very great regard, Your most obedient humble servant, Tho M:Kean President"

The election of the new Delegates under the Articles of Confederation by the States finally relieved Thomas McKean of the 2^nd U.S. Presidency.  The transition from the McKean's to the Hanson's presidency was penned in the hand of Samuel Sterett, in John Hanson's presidential journal:

November 5th, 1781. This day the United States in Congress Assembled elected His Excellency John Hanson, Esquire, President; the honorable Thomas McKean, late President, having resigned on the 23d of October last, but acted by special request until the present time.

The Summary of McKean’s Presidency is as follows:

1781 - July 9 Elects Samuel Johnston president of Congress. July 10 Elects Thomas McKean President of Congress upon Samuel Johnston's declining the office; instructs Thomas Barclay, Vice-Consul to France. July 11 Authorizes Robert Morris to negotiate loans in Spain and Portugal. July 12 Revokes John Adams' commission to negotiate commercial treaty with Britain. July 16 Reinstates General Lachlan McIntosh. July 20 Receives report on claims to the New Hampshire Grants. July 23 Endorses creation of a relief fund for South Carolina and Georgia refugees. July 25 Commends General Nathanael Greene. July 26 Appoints committee to confer with General Washington on troop arrangements "for the ensuing year." July 27 Receives plan for a consular convention from the minister of France. July 31 Orders superintendent of finance and a member of the Board of War to headquarters to confer with General Washington; approves appropriation for the support of three Delaware Native American youths at the Princeton college.

August 1 Orders preparation of a plan to reform the Post Office. August 3 Reads New York memorial on the New Hampshire Grants. August 7 Requests Connecticut to revoke commissions authorizing the seizure of property on Long Island; authorizes committee to confer with Vermont agents on their claim to independence. August 10 Elects Robert R. Livingston secretary for foreign affairs; rejects motion to cede the United States claim to navigation of the Mississippi. August 14 Authorizes the importation of salt. August 16 Adopts instructions to John Adams for negotiating a Dutch alliance. August 17 Instructs committee to confer with Vermont agents despite credentials dispute. August 20-21 Declares Vermont acceptance of prescribed boundaries as a condition to acceptance of Vermont independence. August 21 Enlarges General Washington's prisoner exchange authority. August 23 Exhorts states to maintain their representation in Congress. August 24 Directs superintendent of finance "to make provision for support of the civil list." August 29 Debates motion to retaliate against the execution of Colonel Isaac Hayne; resolves to appoint an agent of marine to exercise the duties of a secretary of marine. August 31 Authorizes recog­nition of Philippe de L'Etombe as French Consul to the New England states.

September 3 Receives account of John Laurens' mission to France. September 4 Directs Washington to investigate British treatment of prisoners. September 5 Orders inquiry into General Robert Howe's southern command. September 7 Recognizes Philippe Letombe's appointment as French Consul to New England; appoints Robert Morris agent of marine. September 10 Recognizes Jean Holker's appointment as French Consul to Mid-Atlantic states; orders New Jersey and Pennsylvania militia call. September 11 Adopts new treasury ordinance. September 12 Places control of US navy under the agent of marine. September 13 Sets day of thanksgiving. September 18 Orders retaliation for execution of Isaac Hayne; plans retaliation for enemy mis­treatment of prisoners. September 19 Orders Delaware militia call; appoints treasury officers. September 20 Reorganizes hospital department. September 21 Receives French Minister's report on mediation offers and peace overtures. September 24 Appoints William Irvine to Fort Pitt command. September 25 Receives memorial from Spanish Agent Rendon; issues reassurance to northern Native Americans.

October 1 Sets salaries for secretaries of war and marine. October 5 Appoints Thomas Barclay Consul to France; discharges Delaware and Pennsylvania militia. October 11-12 Debates Yorktown campaign plans. October 16-17 Debates exercise of Continental jurisdiction over claims within Virginia's western lands. October 19 Reforms Post Office department. October 23 Accepts Thomas McKean's resignation as president (to remain until new Congress November 5). October 24 Receives news of Yorktown victory; observes "divine service (suitable to the occasion)" conducted by Chaplain George Duffield. October 26 Adopts thanksgiving proclamation; rejects Virginia motion to curtail committee investigation of land companies' western claims. October 29 Thanks American and French victors at Yorktown; thanks General Nathanael Greene and southern army. October 30 Appoints General Benjamin Lincoln Secretary at War; sets $8 million fiscal quota for 1782. 

November 1 Endorses General Greene's plans to treat with Cherokee and Chickasaw Native Americans. November 2 Apportions states' 1782 fiscal quotas; authorizes acceptance of quartermaster certificates in payment of quotas.

In 1783, when McKean's U.S. congressional service ended, he focused his political activities in Pennsylvania.  In 1787 he was elected as a Delegate to the 2nd U.S. Constitutional Convention. As a Federalist in that convention he was instrumental in the formation of the document and his State's subsequent ratification of the new Federal Constitution. After the convention he returned to his role as Chief Justice and took a leadership role in Pennsylvania's constitutional convention of 1789-90. It was during this period that McKean began to purport a mistrust of popular gov­ernment. During the 1790's, disenchanted with Federalist foreign policy, McKean began to align himself with Thomas Jefferson a Republican.  In 1799 McKean resigned his position as Pennsylvania's Chief Justice and was elected Governor.

He advanced public education and internal improvements but was domineering in his methodology of leadership. McKean, unabashedly, employed the "Spoils System" as Governor appointing incapable friends and relatives to key positions in his administration. He abandoned the Federalists policy and became a leader of the Republican Party 2nd only to Thomas Jefferson paving the Virginian's way to the U.S. Presidency. This character trait, party change and spoils philosophy alienated many members of the legislature resulting in an attempt to impeach the Governor.  McKean survived the political onslaught and served as Governor until 1808.

McKean was a member of the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati in 1785, and was subsequently its vice-president. Princeton gave him the degree of L.L.D. in 1781; Dartmouth presented the same honor in 1782, The University of Pennsylvania gave him the degree of A.M. in 1763, and L.L.D. in 1785. With Professor John Wilson he published "Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States" (London, 1790). In 1809 McKean retired to Philadelphia and lived out his life quietly. He died in 1817 at the age of 83. Thomas McKean was survived by his second wife and four of the 11 children from his two marriages. McKean left a substantial estate consisting of stocks, bonds, and huge tracts of land in Pennsylvania.  The former President of the United States is buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Plot: Section G, Lot 210.

John Hanson Letter as the 3rd President of the United States in Congress Assembled congratulating Thomas McKean for his service is irrefutable proof that he was not the 1st president of the United States or the 1st President of Continental Congress as maintained by the Smithsonian Institute  in their Presidential Exhibit  - Courtesy of the Author

 

Chapter Nine - John Hanson
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