Thomas L. McKenney
Encyclopedia
Thomas Loraine McKenney (21 March 1785–19 Feb. 1859) was a United States
official who served as Superintendent of Indian Trade from 1816–1822.
McKenny was born on March 21, 1785, in Hopewell, Maryland
. He was the oldest of five boys was raised and received his education at Chestertown, Maryland
. McKenney was a Quaker which influenced his approach to interactions with Native Americans.
After the abolishment of the U.S. Indian Trade program in 1822, then Secretary of War
John C. Calhoun
created a position without legislation within the War Department
entitled Superintendent of Indian Affairs (this later became part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs
). McKenney was appointed to this position and held it from 1824-1830. McKenney was an advocate of the American Indian “civilization” program and became an avid promoter of Indian removal west of the Mississippi River. President Andrew Jackson
dismissed McKenney from his position in 1830 when Jackson disagreed with his opinion that “the Indian was, in his intellectual and moral structure, our equal.”
McKenney died in New York City in February of 1859.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
official who served as Superintendent of Indian Trade from 1816–1822.
McKenny was born on March 21, 1785, in Hopewell, Maryland
Hopewell, Maryland
Hopewell is an unincorporated community in Somerset County, Maryland, United States. It is located at the southern intersection of Maryland Route 413 and Maryland Route 667.-References:...
. He was the oldest of five boys was raised and received his education at Chestertown, Maryland
Chestertown, Maryland
Chestertown is a town in Kent County, Maryland, United States. The population was 4,746 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Kent County. The ZIP code is 21620 and the area codes are 410 and 443...
. McKenney was a Quaker which influenced his approach to interactions with Native Americans.
After the abolishment of the U.S. Indian Trade program in 1822, then Secretary of War
United States Secretary of War
The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...
John C. Calhoun
John C. Calhoun
John Caldwell Calhoun was a leading politician and political theorist from South Carolina during the first half of the 19th century. Calhoun eloquently spoke out on every issue of his day, but often changed positions. Calhoun began his political career as a nationalist, modernizer, and proponent...
created a position without legislation within the War Department
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
entitled Superintendent of Indian Affairs (this later became part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Indian Affairs
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is an agency of the federal government of the United States within the US Department of the Interior. It is responsible for the administration and management of of land held in trust by the United States for Native Americans in the United States, Native American...
). McKenney was appointed to this position and held it from 1824-1830. McKenney was an advocate of the American Indian “civilization” program and became an avid promoter of Indian removal west of the Mississippi River. President Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
dismissed McKenney from his position in 1830 when Jackson disagreed with his opinion that “the Indian was, in his intellectual and moral structure, our equal.”
McKenney died in New York City in February of 1859.
See also
- U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs
- History of the Indian Tribes of North America