William McLean

William McLean (born August 10, 1794 in Mason County , Kentucky , † October 2, 1839 in Cincinnati , Ohio ) was an American lawyer , politician and businessman.

Career

William McLean, son of Fergus McLean and Sophia Blackford, was born on August 10, 1794 in Mason County, Kentucky, USA. Several years later, in 1799, his family moved to a farm in Warren County , Ohio . There he attended community school, then studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1814. He then began practicing in Cincinnati, later practicing as a lawyer in Lebanon , the administrative seat of Warren County, Ohio.

McLean moved from Lebanon to Piqua , Ohio, around 1820 , where he was the first regularly knowledgeable attorney to settle in the village. Through his work as a trustee of public funds, he was able to raise 500,000 acres (2,000 km²) of land that he used to build the Ohio Canal from Cincinnati to Cleveland .

politics

McLean was elected in 1822 to represent the 3rd constituency of Ohio, which covered almost all of western Ohio north of Warren County. He took the seat in the 18th United States Congress . He was also re-elected to the two subsequent congresses. In the twentieth Congress he was the chairman of the House Committee on Indian Affairs .

William McLean returned to Cincinnati, where he dealt with mercantile affairs, as well as practicing his practice as a lawyer. He was also interested in agricultural processes. However, when his health began to deteriorate, he withdrew from business life and spent several months in Cuba , hoping that a change in climate would improve his condition due to the lung disease . His condition did not improve, so he returned to Cincinnati, where he spent some time revisiting various locations in his old congressional district.

William McLean died on October 2, 1839 at his home in Cincinnati and was buried on the Catharine Street Burying Ground. In 1863 it was moved to Spring Grove Cemetery .

family

William McLean had two brothers, John and Finis McLean , who were also involved in politics. His older brother, John, was a member of the United States Congress, Justice of the United States Supreme Court, and Secretary of State . His other brother, Finis, was a member of the United States Congress from Kentucky. John's son, Nathaniel C. McLean , was a general in the Union during the American Civil War .

literature

• The History of Miami County, Ohio, Chicago: WH Beers & Co., 1880, 854 pgs.
• Rice, Jim. " Dred Scott jurist had strong ties to N. Kentucky; Pieces of the Past" Cincinnati Post , September 22, 1997.

Web links

• William McLean in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)
• William McLean in the database of Find a Grave (English)