John McKinly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John McKinly
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John McKinly's signature. No known portrait exists.
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| 1st President of Delaware | |
| In office February 12, 1777 – September 22, 1777 |
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| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Thomas McKean |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 24, 1721 Ulster, Ireland |
| Died | August 31, 1796 (aged 75) Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. |
| Political party | Federalist |
| Spouse | Jane Richardson |
| Residences | Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Physician |
| Signature | |
John McKinly (born February 24, 1721 – died August 31, 1796) was an American doctor and politician from Wilmington, Delaware. He fought in the French and Indian War. He also served in the Delaware General Assembly. He was the very first elected President of Delaware. For a time, he was a member of the Federalist Party.
Contents
Early Life and Family
John McKinly was born in Ulster, Ireland. He moved to Delaware in 1742. In 1761, he married Jane "Jenny" Richardson. She was the daughter of a Quaker miller named Richard Richardson. John and Jane did not have any children.
Their home was in Wilmington, Delaware. It was at the corner of 3rd and French Streets. Today, an office building stands there. They were members of the First Presbyterian Church. This church is now called the First and Central Presbyterian Church.
A Doctor and Soldier
McKinly became a well-known doctor. In 1747, he joined the New Castle County militia as a lieutenant. A militia is like a local army of citizens. In 1756, during the French and Indian War, he became a major.
He helped build a strong fort at the old Fort Christina site. This fort was called "the Rocks." People said it was one of the best forts on the continent.
Political Career
In the 1700s, Delaware had two main political groups. These were the "Court Party" and the "Country Party." The Court Party was usually Anglican. They were strong in Kent and Sussex Counties. They worked well with the British government. They wanted to make peace with Britain.
The Country Party was mostly Ulster-Scot. They were based in New Castle County. They quickly wanted independence from Britain. McKinly was part of the Court Party. He believed in more moderate ideas. But because he was Ulster-Scot and a Presbyterian leader, many from the Country Party also liked him.
Serving the Public
McKinly was elected Sheriff of New Castle County in 1757. A sheriff is a top law enforcement officer. He also served four times as the Chief Burgess of Wilmington. This role was like being the mayor of the town. He held this position between 1758 and 1776.
He also represented New Castle County in the Assembly of the Delaware or Lower Counties. He served from 1771 to 1776. As the American Revolution began, he joined the Delaware Committee of Correspondence. This group helped spread news and organize resistance. He became its chairman by November 1774. He also served as a Brigadier General in the New Castle County militia.
Leading Delaware to Independence
On June 15, 1776, the Assembly of the Lower Counties declared independence. They separated from the British government. They created a Council of Safety. This council ran the new state when the Assembly was not meeting. McKinly was one of its five members from New Castle County. He was elected President of this important committee.
In October 1776, Delaware held its first election for the House of Assembly. McKinly was elected to represent New Castle County again. The Assembly then chose him as its Speaker. The Speaker leads the meetings of the Assembly.
President of Delaware
On February 12, 1777, the General Assembly elected John McKinly. He became Delaware's first Chief Magistrate, or President. He served until September 22, 1777.
As President, he faced many challenges. There was an uprising by Loyalists in Sussex County. Loyalists were people who wanted to stay loyal to Britain. He also needed to find new soldiers for the Delaware regiment. Their old enlistments had ended.
Captured by the British
However, big events soon changed everything. The British won a major battle at Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777. The evening after the battle, British soldiers marched to Wilmington. They wanted to meet their ships on the Delaware River. They also wanted to set up a hospital for their wounded soldiers.
While in Wilmington, they found and captured the state treasury. This included many important state papers. They also found President McKinly at home in his bed. They took him prisoner. He was held on British ships, first the Roebuck and later the Solebay.
John Scharf, a historian, described what happened. He wrote that British troops went to Wilmington. They captured President John McKinly from his bed at night. They also took a ship and loaded it with valuable items. These included public and private money and many important papers. The British then occupied Wilmington. Their warships, the Roebuck and Liverpool, were anchored near the town.
In a letter from August 20, 1778, McKinly wrote about his capture. He said he stayed in Wilmington to do his duty. He was captured unexpectedly in his own house. This happened on the night of September 12, 1777. The British 71st Regiment, with 900 men, took him. They were in Wilmington to help their wounded soldiers from the Battle of Brandywine. McKinly also lost many of his personal belongings.
When the British left Philadelphia in June 1778, McKinly was moved to Flatbush, New York. He was finally released in August 1778. He was exchanged for William Franklin. Franklin was the Loyalist Governor of New Jersey and Benjamin Franklin's son.
Professional Career and Later Life
After his release, McKinly went back to being a doctor. He stayed active in Wilmington. He never held political office again. He turned down a chance to join the Continental Congress. He also lost an election to become president again in 1783.
He helped start the Delaware Medical Society in 1789. He was also on the Board of Trustees for the Newark Academy. This academy later became the University of Delaware. He was known for helping pay teachers' salaries. He also supported many students with their education.
Death and Legacy
John McKinly died in Wilmington in 1796. He was first buried in the Presbyterian Cemetery. This cemetery is now the Wilmington Institute Library. His remains were moved to the Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery in 1922. There is a marker there in his memory.
McKinly was the only Chief Executive of Delaware born in another country. He was from Ulster-Scot. He was a moderate leader. This means he was careful about breaking away from Britain. He saw the separation with some sadness. This view was shared by many people. So, he was widely accepted, especially in Kent and Sussex Counties.
George Read was his political friend and helper. Read likely helped him get elected as president. Thomas McKean and his friends were usually McKinly's opponents. Some revolutionaries called him names. McKinly always blamed Thomas McKean for his long time as a prisoner.
The John McKinly Laboratory at the University of Delaware is named after him. There is no known portrait of John McKinly.
See also
- List of U.S. state governors born outside the United States
