George C. McKee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George C. McKee
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Mississippi's 5th district 4th district (1870–1873) |
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| In office 1870–1875 |
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George Colin McKee
October 2, 1837 Joliet, Illinois |
| Died | November 17, 1890 (aged 53) Jackson, Mississippi |
| Political party | Republican |
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George Colin McKee (born October 2, 1837 – died November 17, 1890) was an American politician. He served as a U.S. Representative for the state of Mississippi. He was a member of the Republican Party.
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George C. McKee's Journey in Politics
George Colin McKee was born in Joliet, Illinois, on October 2, 1837. He grew up and went to college in Illinois. He studied at Knox College and Lombard College. Both schools are in Galesburg, Illinois. At college, he focused on studying law.
Becoming a Lawyer and Soldier
After finishing his studies, McKee became a lawyer in 1858. He started his law practice in Centralia, Illinois. From 1858 to 1861, he worked as the city attorney for Centralia. This meant he was the main lawyer for the city.
When the American Civil War began, McKee joined the army. He served in the Eleventh Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. This was a group of soldiers from Illinois. After the war ended, he moved to Vicksburg, Mississippi. There, he continued to work as a lawyer. He also started farming in Hinds County.
Early Steps in Mississippi Government
In 1867, George McKee was given an important job. He was appointed as a "register in bankruptcy." This role involved handling cases where people or businesses could not pay their debts.
The next year, in 1868, he became a member of the State constitutional convention. This was a special meeting. Its purpose was to write a new constitution for the state of Mississippi.
Serving in the U.S. Congress
McKee was a member of the Republican Party. He was elected to the Fortieth Congress. However, he was not officially allowed to take his seat. His election papers were never formally presented to the House of Representatives.
Despite this, McKee was elected again. He served in the Forty-first, Forty-second, and Forty-third Congresses. He was a U.S. Representative from February 23, 1870, to March 3, 1875.
During his time in the Forty-third Congress, he led an important group. He was the chairman of the Committee on Territories. This committee dealt with areas of the United States that were not yet states.
Later Public Service and Legacy
After his time in Congress, McKee went back to practicing law. He continued to help people with legal issues.
He also held other public jobs. From June 28, 1881, to November 12, 1885, he was the postmaster of Jackson, Mississippi. This meant he was in charge of the mail service for the city.
Later, in 1889, he became a "receiver of public moneys." He held this job until he passed away. George Colin McKee died in Jackson, Mississippi, on November 17, 1890. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery.
