Gov Thomas McKean was an American lawyer and politician from New Castle, in New Castle County, Delaware and Philadelphia. During the American Revolution he was a delegate to the Continental Congress where he signed the United States Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. McKean served as a President of Congress. He was at various times a member of the Federalist and Democratic-Republican parties. McKean served as President of Delaware, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, and Governor of Pennsylvania.
Gov. Thomas McKean was born 19 March 1734 in New London, Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States to William McKean (1695-1769) and Letita Finney (1709-1742) and died 24 June 1817 Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States of unspecified causes. He married Mary Borden (1744-1773) 21 July 1763 in New London Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. He married Sarah Armitage (1756-1820) 3 September 1774 in New London Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States.
Early Life
McKean was born in New London Township in the Province of Pennsylvania. He was the son of William McKean and Letitia Finney. His father was a tavern-keeper in New London and both his parents were Irish-born Ulster-Scots who came to Pennsylvania as children from Ballymoney, County Antrim, Ireland.
Marriage and Family
1st Marriage: Mary Borden
Mary Borden was his first wife. They married in 1763, and lived at 22 The Strand in New Castle, Delaware. They had six children: Joseph, Robert, Elizabeth, Letitia, Mary, and Anne. Mary Borden McKean died in 1773 and is buried at Immanuel Episcopal Church in New Castle.
- Joseph Borden McKean (1764-1826)
- Robert McKean (1766-1802)
- Elizabeth McKean (1767-1811)
- Letitia McKean (1769-1845)
- Mary McKean (1771-1781)
- Anne McKean (1773-1804)
2nd Marriage: Sarah Armitage
Sarah Armitage was McKean's second wife. They married in 1774, lived at the northeast corner of 3rd and Pine Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and had four children, Sarah, Thomas, Sophia, and Maria. They were members of the New Castle Presbyterian Church in New Castle and the First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. McKean's daughter Sarah married Spanish diplomat Carlos Martínez de Irujo, 1st Marquis of Casa Irujo; their son, Don Carlos Fernando Martinez De Yrujo Y McKean (1802-1855), would later become Prime Minister of Spain.
- Son McKean (1775-1775)
- Sarah Maria Theresa McKean (1777-1841) - Sarah married Spanish diplomat Carlos Martínez de Irujo, 1st Marquis of Casa Irujo; their son, Carlos Martínez de Irujo y McKean, would later become Prime Minister of Spain.
- Sophia Dorothea McKean (1779-1819)
- Thomas Gerald McKean (1779-1852)
- Maria Louisa McKean (1785-1788)
- Child McKean (1787-)
- Child McKean (1791-)
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Joseph Borden McKean (1764-1826) | |||
| Robert McKean (1766-1802) | |||
| Elizabeth McKean (1767-1811) | |||
| Letitia McKean (1769-1845) | |||
| Mary McKean (1771-1781) | |||
| Anne McKean (1773-1804) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Son McKean (1775-1775) | |||
| Sarah Maria Theresa McKean (1777-1841) | 8 July 1777 Newark, New Castle County, Delaware, United States | 4 January 1841 Spain | Carlos Manuel Martínez de Irujo y Tacón Erice y Gámiz (1763-1824) |
| Sophia Dorothea McKean (1779-1819) | |||
| Thomas Gerald McKean (1779-1852) | |||
| Maria Louisa McKean (1785-1788) | |||
| Child McKean (1787-) | |||
| Child McKean (1791-) | |||
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Robert McKean (1732-1767) | |||
| Thomas McKean (1734-1817) | 19 March 1734 New London, Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States | 24 June 1817 Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States | Mary Borden (1744-1773) Sarah Armitage (1756-1820) |
| Dorothea McKean (1736-1776) | |||
| James McKean (1738-1808) | |||
| William McKean (1738-1811) | |||