John McKinly

Signature of John McKinly

John McKinly (born February 21, 1721 in Ulster , Ireland , † August 21, 1796 in Wilmington , Delaware ) was an American politician and from 1776 to 1777 the 1st governor of the state of Delaware, whose official title was "President of Delaware “Was.

Life

Early years

In 1742, at the age of 21, John McKinly emigrated from northern Ireland to what was then the British colony of Delaware. He settled in Wilmington. In his new home he must have enjoyed medical training, even if there is no more evidence for it, because he then worked as a doctor for a time. At the same time he became a member of the militia. He took part in the Indian Wars and rose first to major and by 1774 to brigadier general of the militia.

Political rise

In 1757 he was sheriff in New Castle County . Between 1758 and 1773 he was mayor of Wilmington several times. Since 1771 he was also a member of the then still colonial parliament of Delaware. After an assembly of the lower counties of Delaware decided to gain independence from Great Britain , it created a Security Council to rule the new state. McKinly was elected to this body and became its chairman and thus practically president of the new state (the title of governor was not introduced until 1793). In October 1776, the first elections for the Delaware House of Representatives were held. McKinly was elected to this body and its president. As a result, he was officially elected President of Delaware on February 12, 1777.

President of Delaware

McKinly could only serve as president of his state until September 1777. His tenure was overshadowed by the events of the War of Independence . McKinly had to raise troops and make them available to the Continental Army . The military situation turned out to be difficult for Delaware. The British conquered the state and also took its president prisoner. This ended his term of office in captivity.

Another résumé

McKinly's grave in Wilmington

In August 1778 McKinly was released as part of a prisoner exchange. McKinly returned to Wilmington and worked there again as a doctor. He turned down further political offices. In 1789 he was among the founders of the Delaware Medical Society. McKinly was also on the Board of Trustees of the Academy of Newark . In this capacity he supported many students and even helped to finance the teachers' salaries. John Mckinly died in 1796. He had been married to Jenny Richardson since 1761. The marriage remained childless. To date, John McKinly is the only Delaware head of government born outside of America.

Web links

• Biography of Russ Pickett (English)
• The governors of Delaware (English)

• John McKinly in the database of Find a Grave (English)