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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 2nd 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
Forgotten Founders Historic Documents and Coins of Freedom - By Stanley
L. Klos
Keynote Address on the 2003
Re-Internment of Samuel and Martha Huntington
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