John McKee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John McKee
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 2nd district |
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| In office March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1829 |
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| Preceded by | District Established |
| Succeeded by | Robert E. B. Baylor |
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John McKee
1771 Rockbridge County, Virginia |
| Died | August 12, 1832 (aged 60–61) Boligee, Alabama |
| Political party | Jackson Democratic-Republican, Jacksonian |
John McKee (born 1771 – died August 12, 1832) was an American politician who worked in the southeastern part of the United States. He was an important person who helped deal with the Cherokee and Choctaw Native American nations. He also became the very first Representative for Alabama's 2nd District, serving from 1823 to 1829. In 1811, President James Madison asked him to help the U.S. gain control of East and West Florida from Spain.
Contents
John McKee's Early Life
John McKee was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia. This area was once part of Augusta County. He went to school at Liberty Hall Academy in Lexington.
Starting Work in the Southwest Territory
By 1792, McKee was living in the Southwest Territory. This territory later became the state of Tennessee. That same year, the governor of the territory, William Blount, asked McKee to survey a boundary line. This line was set up with the Cherokee nation by the 1791 Treaty of Holston.
In 1793, McKee went on a special trip to the Cherokees to help keep the peace. He was temporarily put in charge as the territory's agent for the Cherokees in 1794. An "agent" was like a representative or a go-between for the government and Native American nations.
Becoming a Lawyer and Agent
By 1795, John McKee became a lawyer. He also became a lieutenant colonel in the local militia, which was like a citizen army. He also worked as a clerk for Blount County in the Southwest Territory.
In 1797, the U.S. government sent McKee to Pensacola, Florida. There, he met with people from a company called Panton, Leslie and Company. They talked about money that the Choctaw nation owed to this company. In 1799, McKee was officially made the United States agent for the Choctaw nation. He stayed in this role until 1802.
After he stopped being the official agent, John McKee sometimes worked for John Forbes and Company. This company took over from Panton, Leslie and Company. The Choctaws owed a lot of money to Forbes. McKee and Forbes thought that the only way the Choctaws could pay their debts was by selling their land to the United States.
McKee's Mission to Florida
In 1810, the western parts of Spanish West Florida had a revolt. Soon after, the United States took control of these areas. The governor of West Florida, Juan Vicente Folch y Jaun, was worried. He feared that filibusterers, who were like private military adventurers, would try to take the rest of his province.
An Offer to the United States
To try and stop the United States from sending its army, Governor Folch made an offer in December 1810. He said he would peacefully give Florida to the United States. This would happen if he didn't get more soldiers or orders to stop by the end of the year. John McKee was in Mobile at the time. He was given a copy of Folch's offer to carry by land to Washington.
Working with George Mathews
John McKee reached Washington in January 1811. Soon after, President James Madison decided to send George Mathews to talk about West Florida's surrender with Governor Folch. Mathews was also asked to find ways to separate East Florida from Spain so the U.S. could take it over.
In late January 1811, McKee was chosen to go with Mathews on this important mission to the Floridas. McKee and Mathews traveled to St. Marys, Georgia. This town was right across the St. Marys River from East Florida. Mathews decided that the time was not right for a revolt in East Florida.
Then, McKee and Mathews went to Mobile to meet Governor Folch. But Folch had changed his mind. He had received money and new orders from Veracruz and no longer wanted to give up West Florida. After more talks that didn't work, McKee went to Fort Stoddert (on the Mobile River). He stayed there to watch what was happening in West Florida. Mathews went back to St. Marys to do the same for East Florida.
Mathews sent McKee instructions about how to encourage a rebellion in Mobile and Pensacola. However, McKee's efforts were not very strong. His mission to help the U.S. get the Floridas was canceled in early 1812.
John McKee's Later Life
In 1813, Andrew Jackson sent John McKee on another important mission. He needed to make sure the Choctaws would support the United States against the Creeks. McKee successfully got Choctaw fighters to join the U.S. against the Red Sticks during the Creek War (1813–1814). He even personally led a group of fighters in one attack.
Continuing as Agent and Representative
McKee was again made the agent for the Choctaw nation in 1814. He helped recruit Choctaw and Chickasaw fighters to join Andrew Jackson against the British. McKee was also one of the agents who helped negotiate the Treaty of Fort St. Stephens with the Choctaw nation in 1816. He continued to be the agent for the Choctaw nation until 1821.
From 1821 to 1823, he worked as the registrar for the United States Land Office in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
John McKee became the first Representative for Alabama's 2nd District. He served in this role from 1823 to 1829. In 1824, McKee was sent to Tallahassee, Florida. His job was to figure out the exact location for a special land grant. This land was given by the Congress to the Marquis de Lafayette, a French hero of the American Revolution.
After leaving the House of Representatives in 1829, McKee was one of the people who helped negotiate the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek with the Choctaw nation in 1830.
Final Years
John McKee built a house in Boligee, Alabama in 1816. This house became his permanent home. It is thought that McKee might have married a Chickasaw woman. They had a son and a daughter together. John McKee passed away at his home in Boligee in 1832.
