McLean, John, 1785-1861

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U.S. Supreme Court justice.

From the description of Signature, [not after 1861 April 4]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 22601579

McLean practiced law in Lebanon, Ohio (from 1807), and served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1813-1816), U.S. Postmaster General (1823-1829), and an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1829-1861).

From the description of Letters, 1826, 1828. (Harvard Law School Library). WorldCat record id: 234339336

U.S. representative from Ohio, U.S. postmaster general, and associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

From the description of John McLean papers, 1817-1861 (bulk 1829-1860). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71063519

John McLean was born in Morris County, New Jersey, on March 3, 1785, and received little formal education in his youth. During the early 1800s, he studied law under Arthur St. Clair, Jr., and in 1807 he began a legal practice in Lebanon, Ohio. McLean won a seat in Congress in 1812 and was elected to the Ohio Supreme Court in 1816; he served until 1822, when James Monroe appointed him commissioner of the Public Land Office and postmaster general. Andrew Jackson named McLean to the United States Supreme Court in 1829, and he served concurrently as a justice on the Seventh Circuit. McLean's most famous published decision is his dissent for Dred Scott v. Sanford . He remained politically prominent throughout his time on the Supreme Court and the Whig, Free Soil, and Republican parties all considered him for presidential nominations. McLean married his first wife, Rebecca Edwards, on March 20, 1807, and his second wife, Sarah Bella Garrard, on March 2, 1843, and had seven children. John Mclean died on April 3, 1861.

From the guide to the John McLean papers, McLean, John papers, 1828-1852, 1844-1852, (William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan)

American lawyer and legislator.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Washington, to Robert J. Walker, Secretary of the Treasury, 1847 Dec. 7. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270607865

Biographical Note

  • 1785, Mar. 11: Born, Morris County, N.J.
  • 1807: Married Rebecca Edwards (died 1840)
  • 1807 - 1812 : Founder and editor, The Western Star, Lebanon, Ohio
  • 1812 - 1816 : United States congressman from Ohio
  • 1816 - 1822 : Associate justice, Ohio state supreme court
  • 1822: Commissioner, United States General Land Office
  • 1823 - 1829 : Postmaster general
  • 1829 - 1861 : Associate justice, United States Supreme Court
  • 1843: Married Sarah Bella Garrard
  • 1861, Apr. 4: Died, Cincinnati, Ohio

From the guide to the John McLean Papers, 1817-1861, (bulk 1829-1860), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Humphrey Marshall Papers, 1771-2002, (bulk 1846-1856) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Monroe, James, 1758-1831. Miscellaneous letters and documents : of James Monroe, 1798-1830, n.d. James Monroe Museum & Memorial Library
creatorOf Humphrey Marshall Papers, 1771-2002, (bulk 1846-1856) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Marshall, Humphrey, 1812-1872. Humphrey Marshall papers, 1827-1921 (bulk 1840-1872). The Filson Historical Society
creatorOf McLean, John, 1785-1861. Letter, 1850 April 6 [n.p.], to D. Webster [n.p.]. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
creatorOf Lee, Charles Carter, 1798-1871. Papers of Charles Carter Lee and the Lee family [manuscript], 1768-1931 (bulk 1780-1871). University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Thomas Corwin Correspondence, 1850-1853 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf United States. Post Office Dept. Appointment [manuscript], 1828 June 28. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Brown, Ethan Allen, 1776-1852. Papers. Library of Congress
referencedIn Smith, Francis O. J. (Francis Ormand Jonathan), 1806-1876. Papers, 1827-1838. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Swisher, Carl Brent. Carl Brent Swisher Collection of Research Material Relating to Roger B. Taney. 1836-1962. Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852. Letter, 1848 May 27, Washington, to [H. Ketchum, New York]. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852. Letter, 1848 May 31 [Washington], to [H. Ketchum, New York.]. Dartmouth College Library
creatorOf Lewis Cass papers (1774-1924) William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Mereness, Newton Dennison. Stock and Mereness Archival calendars, 1670-1908. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf United States. Post Office Dept. Letter : [Washington, D.C.], to Thomas Farrington, Owego, N.Y., 1828 Dec. 12. Texas Christian University
referencedIn Mason, Samson, 1793-1869. Letter, 1834 April 24, Springfield, Ohio, to D. Webster, Washington. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Selected personal papers from the Library of Congress [microform], 1817-1830. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Enos Family. Papers, 1796-1868. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
referencedIn Griswold, Rufus W. (Rufus Wilmot), 1815-1857. Papers, 1835-1856. Houghton Library
creatorOf Law, Jonathan, 1784-1859. Correspondence, 1809-1825. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Carey, Lea & Blanchard. Correspondence, 1823-1849. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf McLean, John, 1785-1861. Letters, 1826, 1828. Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
creatorOf McLean, John, 1785-1861. Letter : Washington, D.C., to Reverend W[illiam] B. Sprague, n.p., 1828 Oct. 21. Texas Christian University
referencedIn Hodgson, William Brown, 1800-1871. Correspondence, 1817-1871. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf Thayer, George W. Lucius Lyon papers, 1770-1934, bulk 1833-1851. William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Wirt, William, 1772-1834. William Wirt papers, 1786-1850 (inclusive), [microform]. Yale University Library
creatorOf DuBois family. DuBois-Ogden-McIlvaine family papers, 1786-1983, bulk 1801-1877. William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Woods, John, 1794-1855. Letter, 1831 June 6, Hamilton, Ohio, to Daniel Webster [n.p.]. Dartmouth College Library
creatorOf McLean, John, 1785-1861. Signature, [not after 1861 April 4]. George Washington University
referencedIn Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874. Correspondence, 1829-1874 Houghton Library
referencedIn New York State Library. Manuscripts and Special Collections Unit. Autographs of American authors and statesmen collection, ca.1770-1865. American Periodical Series I
referencedIn Palfrey family papers, 1713-1915 Houghton Library
creatorOf Henkel family. Papers of the Henkel family [manuscript], 1805-1941. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Van Rensselaer, Stephen, 1764-1839. Letter, 1827 January 3. American Periodical Series I
referencedIn McLean family. McLean family collection, 1796-1941 (bulk 1830-1865). Ohio History Connection, Ohio Historical Society
referencedIn Autograph File, M Houghton Library
referencedIn DuBois-Ogden-McIlvaine family papers 1786-1983 1801-1877 DuBois-Ogden-McIlvaine family papers William L. Clements Library
creatorOf McLean, John, 1785-1861. Autograph letter signed : Washington, to Robert J. Walker, Secretary of the Treasury, 1847 Dec. 7. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Caleb B. Smith Papers, 1841-1862, (bulk 1849) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf McLean, John, 1785-1861. Papers. Ohio History Connection, Ohio Historical Society
creatorOf Crowninshield Family. Crowninshield Family Papers, 1697-1909. Peabody Essex Museum
creatorOf McLean, John, 1785-1861. Papers 1816-1859. Ohio History Connection, Ohio Historical Society
referencedIn Miner, Charles, 1778-1865. Letter, 1831 September 8, West Chester, Pa., to Daniel Webster [n.p.]. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Thomas Ewing Family Papers, 1757-1941, (bulk 1815-1896) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Taylor, John W., 1784-1854. John W. Taylor correspondence and papers, 1804-1846. Churchill County Museum
referencedIn Swisher, Carl Brent. The Carl Brent Swisher collection of research materials relating to Roger B. Taney. 1836-1962. Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Lewis Cass papers (1774-1924) William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Nicholas Biddle Papers, 1681-1933, (bulk 1775-1846) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn James Monroe Papers, 1758-1839 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Bates, George C. Letter : Detroit, to [Abraham Lincoln], n.p., 1861 Apr. 10. Texas Christian University
referencedIn Hamer, Thomas Lyon, 1800-1846. Papers of Thomas Lyon Hamer, 1825-1890 (bulk 1829-1840). Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf John McLean Papers, 1817-1861, (bulk 1829-1860) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Lucius Lyon papers (1770-1934, bulk 1833-1851) William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Grundy, Felix, 1777-1840. Felix Grundy papers, 1807-1889 (bulk 1824-1840) [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn War of 1812 mss., 1776-1879 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
referencedIn Weed, Thurlow, 1797-1882. Papers. Ohio History Connection, Ohio Historical Society
referencedIn John W. Taylor Papers, 1798-1852 New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Ingham, Samuel D. (Samuel Delucenna), 1779-1860. Substance of a conversation with Samuel D. Ingham, 1831 Mar. 22. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn William Bebb Papers, 1705-1849, 1812-1849 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf John McLean papers 1828-1852 1844-1852 McLean, John papers William L. Clements Library
creatorOf McLean, John, 1785-1861. Papers. Ohio History Connection, Ohio Historical Society
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith Atwater, Caleb, 1778-1867 person
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associatedWith Bates, George C. person
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associatedWith Berrien, John MacPherson, 1781-1856 person
correspondedWith Biddle, Nicholas, 1786-1844. person
associatedWith Brown, Ethan Allen, 1776-1852. person
correspondedWith Buchanan, James, 1791-1868 person
correspondedWith Calhoun, John C. (John Caldwell), 1782-1850 person
associatedWith Carey, Lea & Blanchard. corporateBody
correspondedWith Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873 person
correspondedWith Clayton, John M. (John Middleton), 1796-1856 person
correspondedWith Corwin, Thomas, 1794-1865. person
associatedWith Crowninshield Family. family
correspondedWith Dallas, George Mifflin, 1792-1864 person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Democratic Party (Ohio) corporateBody
associatedWith DuBois family family
associatedWith DuBois family. family
correspondedWith Eaton, John Henry, 1790-1856 person
correspondedWith Edwards, Ninian, 1775-1833 person
associatedWith Enos Family. family
correspondedWith Everett, Edward, 1794-1865 person
correspondedWith Ewing family family
correspondedWith Ewing, Thomas, 1789-1871. person
correspondedWith Green, Duff, 1791-1875 person
associatedWith Griswold, Rufus W. (Rufus Wilmot), 1815-1857 person
associatedWith Grundy, Felix, 1777-1840. person
correspondedWith Hamer, Thomas Lyon, 1800-1846. person
associatedWith Henkel family. family
associatedWith Hildt, George. person
correspondedWith Hill, Isaac, 1789-1851 person
associatedWith Hodgson, William Brown, 1800-1871. person
associatedWith Ingham, Samuel D. (Samuel Delucenna), 1779-1860. person
correspondedWith Johnson, Richard M. (Richard Mentor), 1780-1850 person
associatedWith Key, Francis Scott, 1779-1843 person
associatedWith Law, Jonathan, 1784-1859. person
associatedWith Lee, Charles Carter, 1798-1871 person
correspondedWith Lee, Henry, 1787-1837 person
correspondedWith Madison, James, 1751-1836 person
associatedWith Marshall, Humphrey, 1812-1872. person
associatedWith Mason, Samson, 1793-1869. person
correspondedWith McArthur, Duncan, 1772-1839 person
associatedWith McIlvaine family family
associatedWith McLean family. family
associatedWith Mereness, Newton Dennison. person
associatedWith Miner, Charles, 1778-1865. person
correspondedWith Monroe, James, 1758-1831. person
associatedWith New York State Library. Manuscripts and Special Collections Unit. corporateBody
associatedWith Ogden, David Bayard, 1775-1849 person
associatedWith Ogden family family
correspondedWith Palfrey family. family
associatedWith Parris, Albion Keith, 1788-1857, person
correspondedWith Peters, Richard, 1780-1848 person
associatedWith Pilliman, Ullysses. person
correspondedWith Rives, William C. (William Cabell), 1793-1868 person
correspondedWith Rush, Richard, 1780-1859 person
correspondedWith Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866 person
correspondedWith Sergeant, Thomas, 1782-1860 person
correspondedWith Seward, William Henry, 1801-1872 person
associatedWith Smith, Caleb B. (Caleb Blood), 1808-1864. person
associatedWith Smith, Francis O. J. (Francis Ormand Jonathan), 1806-1876. person
associatedWith Sprague, William Buell, 1795-1876. person
correspondedWith Stanton, Edwin McMasters, 1814-1869 person
correspondedWith Story, Joseph, 1779-1845 person
correspondedWith Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874 person
associatedWith Swisher, Carl Brent, 1897-1968. person
correspondedWith Taney, Roger Brooke, 1777-1864 person
associatedWith Taylor, John W., 1784-1854. person
associatedWith Teesdale, John. person
associatedWith Thayer, George W. person
associatedWith Thayer, George W. person
associatedWith Towson, Nathan, 1784-1854 person
correspondedWith Tyler, John, 1790-1862 person
associatedWith United States. General Land Office. corporateBody
associatedWith United States Military Academy. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Post Office Dept. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Supreme Court. corporateBody
associatedWith Van Rensselaer, Stephen, 1764-1839. person
associatedWith Walker, Robert John, 1801-1869, person
correspondedWith Ward, Henry Dana, 1797-1884 person
associatedWith Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852. person
correspondedWith Weed, Thurlow, 1797-1882 person
associatedWith Whig Party (Ohio) corporateBody
associatedWith Whig Party (U.S.) corporateBody
correspondedWith Whitcomb, James, 1795-1852 person
associatedWith William L. Clements Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Wirt, William, 1772-1834. person
associatedWith Woods, John, 1794-1855. person
associatedWith Wright, W. Lloyd (William Lloyd), 1876-1950, person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Cincinnati (Ohio)
Cincinnati (Ohio)
Washington (D.C.)
United States
Ohio
Ohio
Washington (D.C.)
Western Reserve (Ohio)
Texas
United States
United States
Ohio
Mexico
United States
Cincinnati (Ohio)
Ohio
Subject
Slavery
Slavery
Constitutional law
Constitutional law
Courts
Elections
Indians of North America
Law
Law
Newspaper publishing
Presidents
Presidents
Public lands
Secession
Occupation
Cabinet officers
Jurists
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Activity

Person

Birth 1785-03-11

Death 1861-04-04

Information

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