Founding Fathers - Thomas McKean
Thomas McKean Born: March 19, 1734 (New London, Pennsylvania) Died: June 24, 1817 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Happy New Year! As we bid adieu to 2023 and move ahead, we're also getting close to wrapping up our list of Founding Fathers. This week we'll meet the sixth and final Thomas from the group, who also represents the last member of the Delaware delegation. As the second son of an innkeeper, William McKean, and his wife, Letitia, young Thomas was educated at home until the age of nine, at which time he joined his 11-year-old brother at the New London Academy to study with Rev. Francis Alison. Thomas was one of three signers to be taught by the esteemed Latin scholar, alongside George Read and James Smith. After seven years he moved to New Castle, which was in one of the Lower Delaware counties that were still only semi-autonomous from Pennsylvania, and a cousin named David Finney taught him law for four years. At the age of 20, Thomas was admitted to the bar in Delaw