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James McLene

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James McLene Famous memorial

Birth
New London, Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA
Death
13 Mar 1806 (aged 75)
Franklin County, Pennsylvania, USA
Burial
Kauffman, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Continental Congressman. He was educated at a local private academy, moved to Antrim Township in 1754, and owned several farms, operating some and renting out others. He was a delegate to Pennsylvania's 1776 constitutional convention, and a member of the state House of Representatives in 1776 and 1777. From 1778 to 1779 McLene served on Pennsylvania's Executive Council. He was a member of the Continental Congress from 1779 to 1780. He was a Delegate to the Pennsylvania constitutional conventions in 1789 and 1790, and was one of the primary drafters of the new state Constitution. From 1790 to 1791 and 1793 to 1794 McLene served again in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.


James McLene

Born: October 14, 1730, New London, Chester County, PA. Died: March 13, 1806, Antrim Township, Franklin County, PA. Member of the General Assembly: Cumberland County, 1776-1778; Franklin County, 1790-1791, 1793-1794. Affiliation: Constitutionalist, Democratic-Republican.

James McLene (McLane/M'Clean/M. Lane) was born on October 14, 1730, in New London, Pennsylvania. He was educated under the Reverend Francis Alison and relocated to Cumberland County when he was 23 years old. On July 5, 1753, McLene married the former Christian Brown, and the couple had a number of children including Daniel, Thomas Brown, Mary (Smith), James, John, Lazarus Brown, and Phinuel McFerran (McPheron).

McLene began his political career as a member of the Provincial Conference held at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia beginning on June 18, 1776. The following month, on July 15, he served as a delegate at the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention of 1776. Mclene was elected as a Constitutionalist to represent Cumberland County for the 1776-1777 session of Pennsylvania's newly independent Assembly. During his first term he was part of the Military Committee as well as assigned the task of conferring with delegates from Maryland and Virginia regarding boundary lines. McLene was re-elected the following session, and on November 20, 1777, he was elected the 32nd Speaker of the General Assembly. He resigned the Speakership on February 20, 1778, when John Bayard returned from his engagement in the war effort.

On November 6, 1778, McLene was appointed to the Supreme Executive Council and served for 2 years. He was a delegate at the Continental Congress in 1779 and 1780. On November 10, 1783, McLene was elected to the Council of Censors. From February 2, 1783, to October 23, 1787, and from 1787-1789, McLene served as Councilor of the newly created Franklin County. He also served as a member of the 1790 Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention.

McLene was re-elected to Pennsylvania's General Assembly as a Democratic-Republican for the 1790-1791 session, this time representing Franklin County. He was re-elected for the 1793-1794 session.

Following his Assembly service, he was commissioned a justice of the peace on March 18, 1800, for Franklin County.

James McLene died on March 13, 1806, in Antrim Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. He is interred at Brown Mill Presbyterian Cemetery in Kauffman, Franklin County, Pennsylvania.

~ Information taken from "House Speaker Biographies", Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Continental Congressman. He was educated at a local private academy, moved to Antrim Township in 1754, and owned several farms, operating some and renting out others. He was a delegate to Pennsylvania's 1776 constitutional convention, and a member of the state House of Representatives in 1776 and 1777. From 1778 to 1779 McLene served on Pennsylvania's Executive Council. He was a member of the Continental Congress from 1779 to 1780. He was a Delegate to the Pennsylvania constitutional conventions in 1789 and 1790, and was one of the primary drafters of the new state Constitution. From 1790 to 1791 and 1793 to 1794 McLene served again in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.


James McLene

Born: October 14, 1730, New London, Chester County, PA. Died: March 13, 1806, Antrim Township, Franklin County, PA. Member of the General Assembly: Cumberland County, 1776-1778; Franklin County, 1790-1791, 1793-1794. Affiliation: Constitutionalist, Democratic-Republican.

James McLene (McLane/M'Clean/M. Lane) was born on October 14, 1730, in New London, Pennsylvania. He was educated under the Reverend Francis Alison and relocated to Cumberland County when he was 23 years old. On July 5, 1753, McLene married the former Christian Brown, and the couple had a number of children including Daniel, Thomas Brown, Mary (Smith), James, John, Lazarus Brown, and Phinuel McFerran (McPheron).

McLene began his political career as a member of the Provincial Conference held at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia beginning on June 18, 1776. The following month, on July 15, he served as a delegate at the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention of 1776. Mclene was elected as a Constitutionalist to represent Cumberland County for the 1776-1777 session of Pennsylvania's newly independent Assembly. During his first term he was part of the Military Committee as well as assigned the task of conferring with delegates from Maryland and Virginia regarding boundary lines. McLene was re-elected the following session, and on November 20, 1777, he was elected the 32nd Speaker of the General Assembly. He resigned the Speakership on February 20, 1778, when John Bayard returned from his engagement in the war effort.

On November 6, 1778, McLene was appointed to the Supreme Executive Council and served for 2 years. He was a delegate at the Continental Congress in 1779 and 1780. On November 10, 1783, McLene was elected to the Council of Censors. From February 2, 1783, to October 23, 1787, and from 1787-1789, McLene served as Councilor of the newly created Franklin County. He also served as a member of the 1790 Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention.

McLene was re-elected to Pennsylvania's General Assembly as a Democratic-Republican for the 1790-1791 session, this time representing Franklin County. He was re-elected for the 1793-1794 session.

Following his Assembly service, he was commissioned a justice of the peace on March 18, 1800, for Franklin County.

James McLene died on March 13, 1806, in Antrim Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. He is interred at Brown Mill Presbyterian Cemetery in Kauffman, Franklin County, Pennsylvania.

~ Information taken from "House Speaker Biographies", Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Bio by: Bill McKern



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: Bill McKern
  • Added: Aug 26, 2007
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21177462/james-mclene: accessed ), memorial page for James McLene (11 Oct 1730–13 Mar 1806), Find a Grave Memorial ID 21177462, citing Browns Mill Presbyterian Cemetery, Kauffman, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.