Thomas McKean Thompson McKennan facts for kids
Thomas McKean Thompson McKennan (born March 31, 1794 – died July 9, 1852) was an important American politician and lawyer in the 1800s. He briefly served as the United States Secretary of the Interior for President Millard Fillmore.
Quick facts for kids
Thomas McKennan
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| 2nd United States Secretary of the Interior | |
| In office August 15, 1850 – August 26, 1850 |
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| President | Millard Fillmore |
| Preceded by | Thomas Ewing |
| Succeeded by | Alexander Stuart |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 21st district |
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| In office May 30, 1842 – March 3, 1843 |
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| Preceded by | Joseph Lawrence |
| Succeeded by | William Wilkins |
| In office March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1839 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Isaac Leet |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 15th district |
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| In office March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1833 |
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| Preceded by | William McCreery |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Beaumont |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Thomas McKean Thompson McKennan
March 31, 1794 New Castle, Delaware, U.S. |
| Died | July 9, 1852 (aged 58) Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Anti-Masonic (Before 1842) Whig (1842–1852) |
| Spouse | Matilda Bowman |
| Children | 8 |
| Education | Washington and Jefferson College (BA) |
Contents
Early Life and Education
Thomas McKennan was born in New Castle, Delaware, on March 31, 1794. His parents were Colonel William and Elizabeth Thompson McKennan. Later, his family moved to Washington, Pennsylvania.
He went to Washington College and graduated in 1810. After college, he studied law and became a lawyer in 1814. He started his law practice in Washington, Pennsylvania.
College Studies and Teaching
While at Washington College, Thomas McKennan was part of the Union Literary Society. In 1811, he gave a speech where he talked about the seven main subjects students studied. These subjects included Latin, Greek, Math, History, and Science.
In 1813, while still studying law, he worked as a tutor at Washington College. Later in his life, he became a Trustee for the college. He was often asked to become the President of Washington College, but he always said no.
Political Career
Starting in Pennsylvania Politics
From 1815 to 1816, Thomas McKennan served as a deputy attorney general for Pennsylvania. This meant he helped the state's main lawyer. He also served on the Town Council in Washington, Pennsylvania, from 1818 to 1830.
In 1830, he was elected to the U.S. Congress. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1831 to 1839. During this time, his main goal was to support a "protective tariff." This was a tax on goods imported from other countries, meant to help American businesses.
McKennan decided not to run for Congress again in 1838. He wanted to retire from public office. However, he returned to Congress from 1842 to 1843. He filled the term of his friend, Joseph Lawrence, who had passed away. During this time, he was a member of both the Anti-Masonic Party and the Whig Party. He also led the United States House Committee on Roads and Canals.
Refusing More Political Roles
Even though many friends and political groups tried to convince him, McKennan again refused to run for another term in Congress. He felt he had done his duty and wanted to focus on his law practice back home.
In 1844, some of his supporters tried to get him chosen as a running mate for Henry Clay, a famous politician. However, there is no sign that McKennan wanted this. He also said no to running for governor of Pennsylvania in the 1840s. But in 1848, he did serve as the president of Pennsylvania's electoral college. This group formally elects the U.S. President.
Secretary of the Interior Role
When Millard Fillmore became the President of the United States, he offered McKennan the job of United States Secretary of the Interior. McKennan was not sure about taking the job. He only accepted after a lot of pressure from his friends.
Almost immediately, he regretted his decision. He resigned after only 11 days in the position. McKennan said he had a "peculiar nervous temperament," meaning he was easily affected by stress. Other reasons for his quick resignation included disagreements with President Fillmore and Secretary of State Daniel Webster about who should be appointed to certain government jobs.
During his very short time as Secretary, McKennan was in charge of the 1850 Census. This was a count of all the people in the country. He made a very important statement about protecting people's privacy during the census:
Information has been received at this office that in some cases unnecessary exposure has been made by the assistant marshals with reference to the business and pursuits, and other facts relating to individuals, merely to gratify curiosity, or the facts applied to the private use or pecuniary advantage of the assistant, to the injury of others. Such a use of the returns was neither contemplated by the act itself nor justified by the intentions and designs of those who enacted the law. No individual employed under sanction of the Government to obtain these facts has a right to promulgate or expose them without authority. ...all marshals and assistants are expected to consider the facts intrusted to them as if obtained exclusively for the use of the Government, and not to be used in any way to the gratification of curiosity, the exposure of any man's business or pursuits, or for the private emolument of the marshals or assistants, who, while employed in this service, act as the agents of the Government in the most confidential capacity.
He believed that the information collected for the government should be kept private. It should not be used to hurt anyone or for personal gain.
Later Career and Personal Life
After leaving his government job, McKennan took on a less stressful role. He became the president of the Hempfield Railroad. This railroad was being built between Wheeling, Virginia, and Greensburg, Pennsylvania. It passed through his hometown of Washington. The railroad was later bought by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in 1871.
On December 6, 1815, Thomas McKennan married Matilda Lourie Bowman. They had eight children together:
- William McKennan
- Thomas McKennan
- Isabella McKennan
- Jacob Bowman McKennan
- Thomas McKean Thompson McKennan, Jr.
- Anne Elizabeth McKennan
- John Thompson McKennan
- Matilda Bowman McKennan
Thomas McKennan passed away on July 9, 1852, in Reading, Pennsylvania. He was there on business for the Hempfield Railroad. He was buried in the Washington Cemetery in his longtime home of Washington, Pennsylvania.
