Samuel McKee (1774)
Encyclopedia
Samuel McKee was a U.S. Representative
from Kentucky
.
Born near Lexington, Augusta (now Rockbridge) County, Virginia, McKee was graduated from Liberty Hall Academy (now Washington and Lee University
), Lexington, Virginia
, in 1794.
He studied law.
He was admitted to the bar
in 1800 and commenced practice in Somerset, Kentucky
.
He served as surveyor of Pulaski County.
He moved to Lancaster, Kentucky
, in 1807 and continued the practice of law.
He served as member of the State house of representatives 1802–1808.
McKee was elected as a Democratic-Republican
to the Eleventh
and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1809 – March 3, 1817).
He served as chairman of the Committee on Public Lands (Thirteenth
Congress).
He served in the War of 1812
on the staff of General Harrison.
Samuel McKee was a model of “imbedded oversight” by the Congress of the Executive Branch in the early 19th century. As a Congressman from Kentucky, he participated in formulating, drafting and introducing in the Congress the Articles of War declaring war on Great Britain in 1812. Then, during the summer recess, he enlisted as a private, serving on the staff of General William Henry Harrison at, among other places, the Battle of the Thames. Thus, he was able to provide feedback to his Congressional allies, including Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun.
He after the war resumed the practice of his profession in Lancaster.
He was a lifelong political ally and close personal friend of Henry Clay, and of John C. Calhoun. Family records indicate there was a long running series of letters exchanged between the three on many of the most critical political issues of the day, although the whereabouts of those to McKee are unknown, those of his to Clay and Calhoun may be archived in their papers.
He was a founding trustee of Centre College of Kentucky in Danville.
He was appointed by President Monroe a member of the commission to clear the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers of obstructions and served until his death in Hickman County, Kentucky
, on October 16, 1826.
He was interred in Frankfort Cemetery
, Frankfort, Kentucky
.
He was married on June 25, 1807 to Martha "Patsy" Robertson (1788–1848) in Lancaster, Garrard County, Kentucky. Martha was the daughter of Alexander Robertson, an early pioneer in the Harrodsburg, Kentucky area, a delegate to the Virginia House of Delegates to ratify the US Constitution, and a sister and sister-in-law of two other men who would rise to prominence in state and national politics.
Martha's brother, George Robertson (1790–1874), studied law under McKee, succeeded McKee in the Congress (1817–1821), and served as Chief Justice of Kentucky (1829–1843 and 1870–1871). He also declined four cabinet offers and two Supreme Court nominations. McKee's brother-in-law was Robert Perkins Letcher (1788–1861) succeeded Robertson in the US Congress, and later served as the fifteenth Governor of Kentucky (1840–1844) and Ambassador to Mexico (1849–1852). At various times in their lives each of these three lived in the same house in Lancaster, Kentucky, which became known as "The House of the Three Congressmen".
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 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...
.
Born near Lexington, Augusta (now Rockbridge) County, Virginia, McKee was graduated from Liberty Hall Academy (now Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
), Lexington, Virginia
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to...
, in 1794.
He studied law.
He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1800 and commenced practice in Somerset, Kentucky
Somerset, Kentucky
The major demographic differences between the city and the micropolitan area relate to income, housing composition and age. The micropolitan area, as compared to the incorporated city, is more suburban in flavor and has a significantly younger housing stock, a higher income, and contains most of...
.
He served as surveyor of Pulaski County.
He moved to Lancaster, Kentucky
Lancaster, Kentucky
Lancaster is a city in Garrard County, Kentucky, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,734. It is the county seat of Garrard County. Located south of Lexington, it is the site of the Kennedy House, said to have been used in Uncle Tom's Cabin. The controversial...
, in 1807 and continued the practice of law.
He served as member of the State house of representatives 1802–1808.
McKee was elected as a Democratic-Republican
Democratic-Republican Party (United States)
The Democratic-Republican Party or Republican Party was an American political party founded in the early 1790s by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Political scientists use the former name, while historians prefer the latter one; contemporaries generally called the party the "Republicans", along...
to the Eleventh
11th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :-Leadership:- Senate :* President: George Clinton * President pro tempore:** John Milledge ** Andrew Gregg , elected June 26, 1809** John Gaillard , elected February 28, 1810...
and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1809 – March 3, 1817).
He served as chairman of the Committee on Public Lands (Thirteenth
13th United States Congress
- Senate :* President: Elbridge Gerry , until November 23, 1814, thereafter vacant.* President pro tempore: Joseph B. Varnum , December 6, 1813 – February 3, 1814** John Gaillard , elected November 25, 1814- House of Representatives :...
Congress).
He served in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
on the staff of General Harrison.
Samuel McKee was a model of “imbedded oversight” by the Congress of the Executive Branch in the early 19th century. As a Congressman from Kentucky, he participated in formulating, drafting and introducing in the Congress the Articles of War declaring war on Great Britain in 1812. Then, during the summer recess, he enlisted as a private, serving on the staff of General William Henry Harrison at, among other places, the Battle of the Thames. Thus, he was able to provide feedback to his Congressional allies, including Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun.
He after the war resumed the practice of his profession in Lancaster.
He was a lifelong political ally and close personal friend of Henry Clay, and of John C. Calhoun. Family records indicate there was a long running series of letters exchanged between the three on many of the most critical political issues of the day, although the whereabouts of those to McKee are unknown, those of his to Clay and Calhoun may be archived in their papers.
He was a founding trustee of Centre College of Kentucky in Danville.
He was appointed by President Monroe a member of the commission to clear the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers of obstructions and served until his death in Hickman County, Kentucky
Hickman County, Kentucky
Hickman County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1822. The elevation in the county ranges from to above sea level. As of 2000, the population was 5,262. Its county seat is Clinton. It is the least densely populated county in the state and is a prohibition or...
, on October 16, 1826.
He was interred in Frankfort Cemetery
Frankfort Cemetery
The Frankfort Cemetery is located on East Main Street in Frankfort, Kentucky. The cemetery is the burial site of Daniel Boone and contains the graves of other famous Americans including seventeen Kentucky governors.-History:...
, Frankfort, Kentucky
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...
.
He was married on June 25, 1807 to Martha "Patsy" Robertson (1788–1848) in Lancaster, Garrard County, Kentucky. Martha was the daughter of Alexander Robertson, an early pioneer in the Harrodsburg, Kentucky area, a delegate to the Virginia House of Delegates to ratify the US Constitution, and a sister and sister-in-law of two other men who would rise to prominence in state and national politics.
Martha's brother, George Robertson (1790–1874), studied law under McKee, succeeded McKee in the Congress (1817–1821), and served as Chief Justice of Kentucky (1829–1843 and 1870–1871). He also declined four cabinet offers and two Supreme Court nominations. McKee's brother-in-law was Robert Perkins Letcher (1788–1861) succeeded Robertson in the US Congress, and later served as the fifteenth Governor of Kentucky (1840–1844) and Ambassador to Mexico (1849–1852). At various times in their lives each of these three lived in the same house in Lancaster, Kentucky, which became known as "The House of the Three Congressmen".