Thomas McKean - Delaware Signer of the Declaration.

Thomas McKean lived from 1734 to 1817. Upon his death there would only be 5 living signers of the Declaration left at the time.

He was educated at home until he was sent to New London Academy and after seven years of study he then begins the study of law under his cousin in Delaware. He finally gains admittance to the Pennsylvania bar and begins to practice law. Then he joins the local militia.

He is elected to the House Assembly in Delaware and holds this position until 1780 and then resign due to living in Pennsylvania. He marries twice - first to Mary Borden whom he has six children with and then to Sarah Armitage a year after his first wife dies. They would have two children that survived to adulthood and several children that would pass in infancy.

He participates in the Stamp Act Congress prior to the Revolution. He would be appointed to the Continental Congress and serve there on and off until 1783 when the Treaty of Paris was signed. He also served as the President of the Continental Congress. While he voted for Independence, he has to leave the next day to go with his militia and defend New York. He was a Colonel in the Militia.

During the Constitutional period he was appointed to attend the Pennsylvania Ratification Convention and supported the new Constitution. He would be a Federalist initially but after framing the new Pennsylvania Constitution in 1790 he embraced Demo-Republican Party and became a foe of Alexander Hamilton.

He will serve in several other political offices and retires in 1808.