Thomas J. McKean was born in 1810 in the borough of Burlington located in Bradford County, Pennsylvania. He entered the United States Military Academy in West Point in 1827, and graduated four years later, standing 19th out of 33 cadets. McKean was commissioned a brevetsecond lieutenant in the 4th U.S. Infantry on July 1, 1831.[1] His service in the U.S. Army consisted of several stints of garrison duty over the next three years,[2] during which he was promoted to second lieutenant on September 15, 1833. McKean resigned from the U.S. Army the following year on March 31.[1]
After resigning in 1834, McKean took up work as a civil engineer. He then participated in the Seminole Wars in 1837–38, serving as adjutant of the 1st Pennsylvania Volunteers,[2] with the rank of first lieutenant.[3] McKean resigned on March 31, 1838, and returned to Pennsylvania and the profession of an engineer.[1] In 1840 he relocated to Marion in the Iowa Territory, and in 1844 he was part of the constitutional convention aimed at creating the state of Iowa.[2]
During the Mexican–American War, McKean volunteered for service, and enlisted as a private in the 15th U.S. Infantry on April 12, 1847. He was quickly promoted to sergeant major on May 10, and fought in the Battle of Churubusco on August 20, in which he was wounded. That June, McKean was appointed to the rank of brevet second lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Dragoons, but he chose to decline the commission. After hostilities ended, he was discharged on August 7, 1848.[1] Historian Ezra J. Warner noted McKean's unusual situation of having been trained at West Point and served in other duties as an officer, but was as an enlisted man in combat while in Mexico.[4] Following the war he returned to his civilian life in Iowa, a U.S. state since 1846.
Civil War serviceedit
McKean and his staff during the American Civil War
When the American Civil War began in 1861, McKean chose to follow his home state and the Union cause. On June 1 he was appointed the paymaster of the Union Army, and then led the cavalry of the Department of the Gulf beginning on September 18. McKean was briefly in charge of prisoner of war camps in Missouri, and was appointed a brigadier general in the Union Army on November 21.[5]
McKean commanded at Jefferson City, Missouri, from December to March 1862. He was then given divisional command in the Army of the Tennessee on April 10. He fought in the Battle of Corinth in Mississippi on October 3–4, and then led his division until December 9. McKean then commanded numerous districts across Union-held departments throughout 1863, 1864, and until July 10, 1865.[6] McKean was appointed to the rank of brevet major general on March 13 for his war service, and was mustered out of the volunteer service on August 24.[1]
Postwaredit
After the American Civil War ended in 1865, McKean returned home to Iowa. He was elected Marion's mayor that year, and took up farming close to the city until 1869. He served as a delegate to the Republican convention in Chicago, Illinois, in 1868. McKean was offered the position of pension agent of the eastern Iowa district in early 1870, but he declined it.[2] That April he died in Marion, Iowa, and was buried in the city's Oak Shade Cemetery.[7]
^Warner, p. 301. "He had the curious distinction of serving throughout the Mexican War as an enlisted man, failing to obtain a commission despite his age and experience."
^Eicher, p. 379. Supervised POW camps in Missouri beginning on November 9 and lasting into December 1861.
^Warner, p. 301. Ezra J. Warner believed McKean's age (nearly 51 at the start of the war) was the principal reason he held very few field commands.
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Thomas Jefferson McKean August 21 1810 April 19 1870 was an American engineer soldier politician and farmer A West Point graduate he fought in the United States Army during the Seminole Wars in the Mexican American War and he served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War Thomas J McKeanThomas Jefferson McKeanBirth nameThomas Jefferson McKeanBorn 1810 08 21 August 21 1810Burlington PennsylvaniaDiedApril 19 1870 1870 04 19 aged 59 Marion IowaPlace of burialOak Shade Cemetery Marion IowaAllegianceUnited States of AmericaUnionService wbr branchUnited States ArmyUnion ArmyYears of service1831 1834 1837 1838 1847 1848 1861 1865RankBrigadier General Brevet Major GeneralUnit4th U S Infantry15th U S InfantryCommands held6th Division Army of the TennesseeBattles warsSeminole WarsMexican American WarAmerican Civil War Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Civil War service 3 Postwar 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksEarly life and career editThomas J McKean was born in 1810 in the borough of Burlington located in Bradford County Pennsylvania He entered the United States Military Academy in West Point in 1827 and graduated four years later standing 19th out of 33 cadets McKean was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant in the 4th U S Infantry on July 1 1831 1 His service in the U S Army consisted of several stints of garrison duty over the next three years 2 during which he was promoted to second lieutenant on September 15 1833 McKean resigned from the U S Army the following year on March 31 1 After resigning in 1834 McKean took up work as a civil engineer He then participated in the Seminole Wars in 1837 38 serving as adjutant of the 1st Pennsylvania Volunteers 2 with the rank of first lieutenant 3 McKean resigned on March 31 1838 and returned to Pennsylvania and the profession of an engineer 1 In 1840 he relocated to Marion in the Iowa Territory and in 1844 he was part of the constitutional convention aimed at creating the state of Iowa 2 During the Mexican American War McKean volunteered for service and enlisted as a private in the 15th U S Infantry on April 12 1847 He was quickly promoted to sergeant major on May 10 and fought in the Battle of Churubusco on August 20 in which he was wounded That June McKean was appointed to the rank of brevet second lieutenant in the 2nd U S Dragoons but he chose to decline the commission After hostilities ended he was discharged on August 7 1848 1 Historian Ezra J Warner noted McKean s unusual situation of having been trained at West Point and served in other duties as an officer but was as an enlisted man in combat while in Mexico 4 Following the war he returned to his civilian life in Iowa a U S state since 1846 Civil War service edit nbsp McKean and his staff during the American Civil WarWhen the American Civil War began in 1861 McKean chose to follow his home state and the Union cause On June 1 he was appointed the paymaster of the Union Army and then led the cavalry of the Department of the Gulf beginning on September 18 McKean was briefly in charge of prisoner of war camps in Missouri and was appointed a brigadier general in the Union Army on November 21 5 McKean commanded at Jefferson City Missouri from December to March 1862 He was then given divisional command in the Army of the Tennessee on April 10 He fought in the Battle of Corinth in Mississippi on October 3 4 and then led his division until December 9 McKean then commanded numerous districts across Union held departments throughout 1863 1864 and until July 10 1865 6 McKean was appointed to the rank of brevet major general on March 13 for his war service and was mustered out of the volunteer service on August 24 1 Postwar editAfter the American Civil War ended in 1865 McKean returned home to Iowa He was elected Marion s mayor that year and took up farming close to the city until 1869 He served as a delegate to the Republican convention in Chicago Illinois in 1868 McKean was offered the position of pension agent of the eastern Iowa district in early 1870 but he declined it 2 That April he died in Marion Iowa and was buried in the city s Oak Shade Cemetery 7 See also edit nbsp American Civil War portalList of American Civil War generals Union Notes edit a b c d e Eicher p 379 a b c d Warner p 301 Eicher p 379 Date of rank November 1 1837 Warner p 301 He had the curious distinction of serving throughout the Mexican War as an enlisted man failing to obtain a commission despite his age and experience Eicher p 379 Supervised POW camps in Missouri beginning on November 9 and lasting into December 1861 Warner p 301 Ezra J Warner believed McKean s age nearly 51 at the start of the war was the principal reason he held very few field commands Eicher p 380 References editEicher John H and Eicher David J Civil War High Commands Stanford University Press 2001 ISBN 0 8047 3641 3 Warner Ezra J Generals in Blue The Lives of the Union Commanders Louisiana State University Press 1964 ISBN 0 8071 0822 7 External links editThomas J McKean at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas J McKean amp oldid 1201153125, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
