John McKinley
Encyclopedia
John McKinley was a U.S. Senator
from the state
of Alabama
and an associate justice
of the United States Supreme Court.
Born in Culpeper County, Virginia
, his family moved to Kentucky
when he was an infant. In that state he read law and was admitted to the bar in 1800, practicing in Frankfort
and Louisville
from 1800 to 1819 before moving to Huntsville, Alabama
.
After serving in the Alabama House of Representatives
, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, serving his first term from November 27, 1826 to March 3, 1831, being elected to fill out the rest of the term of Henry H. Chambers
. Israel Pickens
served as interim senator until McKinley was elected. He was reelected to the Senate, but served only from March 4, 1837 until his abrupt resignation on April 22 of that same year. McKinley received a recess appointment
from President Martin Van Buren
on April 22, 1837, to a newly created seat (one of two which had been created by Congress - 5 Stat. 176) on the Supreme Court. Formally nominated on September 18, 1837, McKinley was confirmed by the United States Senate
on September 25, 1837, and received his commission the same day. There was no interim senator this time, and Clement C. Clay
was elected to the post. McKinley served on the Supreme Court for fourteen years. He died in Louisville, Kentucky
, on July 19, 1852, at the age of seventy-two.
The community of McKinley, Alabama
is named in his honor.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
and an associate justice
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States are the members of the Supreme Court of the United States other than the Chief Justice of the United States...
of the United States Supreme Court.
Born in Culpeper County, Virginia
Culpeper County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,262 people, 12,141 households, and 9,045 families residing in the county. The population density was 90 people per square mile . There were 12,871 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile...
, his family moved to Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
when he was an infant. In that state he read law and was admitted to the bar in 1800, practicing in Frankfort
Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort is a city in Kentucky that serves as the state capital and the county seat of Franklin County. The population was 27,741 at the 2000 census; by population it is the 5th smallest state capital in the United States...
and Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
from 1800 to 1819 before moving to Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
.
After serving in the Alabama House of Representatives
Alabama House of Representatives
The Alabama House of Representatives is the lower house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The House is composed of 105 members representing an equal amount of districts, with each constituency containing at least 42,380 citizens. There are no term...
, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, serving his first term from November 27, 1826 to March 3, 1831, being elected to fill out the rest of the term of Henry H. Chambers
Henry H. Chambers
Henry H. Chambers was an American politician, who served as the Democratic-Republican U.S. senator from the state of Alabama from March 4, 1825 until his death. He was replaced by Israel Pickens until a replacement, John McKinley, could be elected.-External links:...
. Israel Pickens
Israel Pickens
Israel Pickens was an American politician and lawyer, third Governor of the U.S. state of Alabama , member of the North Carolina Senate , and North Carolina Congressman in the United States House of Representatives .Born in Concord, North Carolina, Pickens graduated from Jefferson College Israel...
served as interim senator until McKinley was elected. He was reelected to the Senate, but served only from March 4, 1837 until his abrupt resignation on April 22 of that same year. McKinley received a recess appointment
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
from President Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
on April 22, 1837, to a newly created seat (one of two which had been created by Congress - 5 Stat. 176) on the Supreme Court. Formally nominated on September 18, 1837, McKinley was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on September 25, 1837, and received his commission the same day. There was no interim senator this time, and Clement C. Clay
Clement Comer Clay
Clement Comer Clay was the eighth Governor of the U.S. state of Alabama from 1835 to 1837.Clay was born in Halifax County, Virginia. His father, William Clay, was an officer in the American Revolutionary War, who moved to Grainger County, Tennessee, after the war. Clay attended public schools and...
was elected to the post. McKinley served on the Supreme Court for fourteen years. He died in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, on July 19, 1852, at the age of seventy-two.
The community of McKinley, Alabama
McKinley, Alabama
McKinley is an unincorporated community in Marengo County, Alabama, United States. McKinley had a post office at one time, but it no longer exists. Although a thriving community in its earliest years, it has since dwindled into obscurity.-History:...
is named in his honor.