Thomas McKean - Philadelphia, PA
N 40° 00.302 W 075° 11.401
18T E 483781 N 4428333
Thomas McKean, signer of the Declaration of Independence as well as many other Patriots, are buried here @ Laurel Hill Cemetery, an NRHP site. Originally, he was buried in the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery & later moved to Laurel Hill in 1843.
Waymark Code: WM72VQ
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 08/24/2009
Views: 6
Thomas McKean is the ultimate patriot who committed the ultimate act of treason, he signed the Declaration if Independence, thereby, officially severing ties with Britain. Some speculate (including my friend with whom I visited this site) McKean, with many other notable historic Americans, were moved here to this cemetery to "get it going" and help it gain popularity so people would want to be buried here. It worked.
From Wikipedia: "Thomas McKean (March 19, 1734 – June 24, 1817) was an American lawyer and politician from New Castle, in New Castle County, Delaware, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During the American Revolution he was a delegate to the Continental Congress where he signed the United States Declaration of Independence and served as a President of Congress. He was at various times a member of the Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties, who served as President of Delaware, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, and Governor of Pennsylvania."
In spite of his primary residence in Philadelphia, McKean remained the effective leader for American Independence in Delaware. Along with George Read and Caesar Rodney, he was one of Delaware's delegates to the First Continental Congress in 1774 and the Second Continental Congress in 1775 and 1776. In July 1781, he succeeded Samuel Huntington as president of Congress in July 1781 where he served until November 4, 1781
There is so much more of his contributions to speak of with regards to the Revolution. Rather than do a copy and paste, here are some links to find further information: Link #1, Link #2, Link #3
Patriot Name: Thomas McKean
Type of Service Provided: Signer of Declaration of Independence, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, Governor of Pennsylvania, helped draft the Articles of Confederation, Continental Congressman from Delaware, President of the Continental Congress, President of Delaware
Cemetery Name: Laurel Hill
Text of the Grave Marker: McKean Family Vault
Beneath
This Marble
Are
The Remains
Of
Thomas McKean
One of the Signers
of the
Declaration of Independence
President of Congress in 1781
Chief Justice
and
Governor of the
State of Pennsylvania
Born March 19, 1734
Died June 24, 1817
And the Descendants of His
Family
Grave Marker Type: Rectangular Marble Grave Cover
Historical Background: eputy Attorney General to County Sussex 1756; Admitted to Bar of Pennsylvania Supreme Court, appointed Clerk of the Assembly of Delaware, 1757; Member of Delaware Assembly, 1762-79; Delegate to the Stamp Act Congress, 1765; Collector of Customs and Commissioner of Revenue at New Castle, 1771; Delegate to the Continental Congress, 1774-81; President of Delaware, 1776; Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, 1777-97; Governor of Pennsylvania, 1799-1812
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