John McKinly

Dr. John McKinly (February 21 1721 – August 21 1796) was an American physician and politician from Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a veteran of the French and Indian War, served in the Delaware General Assembly, was the first elected President of Delaware, and for a time was a member of the Federalist Party.

Early life and family
McKinly was born February 21 1721 in Ulster, Ireland of Ulster-Scots parents and emigrated to Wilmington, Delaware in 1742. In 1761, he married Jane "Jenny" Richardson, a daughter of the Quaker miller, Richard Richardson. They had no children. Their home was at the northwest corner of 3rd and French Streets in Wilmington, now the location of an office building. They were members of the First Presbyterian Church of Wilmington, which is now known as the First and Central Presbyterian Church at Rodney Square in Wilmington. Although nothing seems to be known of his medical education, he soon established himself as a popular physician. In 1747 he was commissioned a lieutenant in the New Castle County militia, and in 1756, during the French and Indian War, he was commissioned again as a major. Along with others, he built a bombproof battery and magazine at the site of the old Fort Christina, in an area known as "the Rocks." It was proudly reported that it equaled if not exceeded, "any on the continent for strength and beauty."

Political career
Eighteenth century Delaware was politically divided into loose factions known as the "Court Party" and the "Country Party." The majority Court Party was generally Anglican, strongest in Kent County and Sussex County, worked well with the colonial Proprietary government, and was in favor of reconciliation with the British government. The minority Country Party was largely Ulster-Scot, centered in New Castle County, and quickly advocated independence from the British. McKinly, like most of the rest of population and the majority in the General Assembly, was associated with the Court Party and its moderate policies. However, his Ulster-Scots background and prominence in the Presbyterian Church community made him acceptable to many who normally associated themselves with the Country Party.

McKinly was elected Sheriff of New Castle County in 1757, served 4 three year terms as Chief Burgess of the town of Wilmington between 1758 and 1776. He also represented New Castle County in the Assembly of the Lower Counties from the 1771/72 session through the 1775/76 session. In the events leading up to the American Revolution, he became a member of the Delaware Committee of Correspondence in October 1773, and was chairman by November 1774. Meanwhile he served as Brigadier General of the New Castle County militia.

When the Assembly of the Lower Counties declared its separation from the British government on June 15 1776, it created a Council of Safety to run the newly independent state when the Assembly was not in session. It consisted of five members from each county. McKinly was one of those representing New Castle County, and was elected President of the Committee. Then when Delaware elected its first House of Assembly in October 1776, he was again elected to represent New Castle County in the 1776/77 session, and was chosen by that body as its Speaker.

President of Delaware
On February 12 1777 the General Assembly elected him to be Delaware's first Chief Magistrate or President and he served until he was replaced on September 22 1777. As President, he was immediately faced with an insurrection by Loyalists, particularly in Sussex County. There was also an immediate need to recruit new soldiers for the Delaware regiment in the Continental Army, as the enlistments of the original regiment had expired. However, events completely overtook him on September 12 1777, when the night after the British victory at the Battle of Brandywine, a regiment of the British Army marched through northern New Castle County, eventually occupying Wilmington. There they captured the state treasury, including most of the state papers. Finding McKinly in his bed, they took him into captivity as well. He was kept as a prisoner of war on the Roebuck, and later on the Solebay, in the Delaware River.

What were perhaps Delaware's most desperate days were described as follows by Scharf:
 * "General Howe remained in camp on the Brandywine, and on the evening after the battle sent a detachment of troops to Wilmington to seize President John McKinly and secure such plunder as might fall in their way. They took the President from his bed at dead of night, and seizing a sloop that lay in the stream, loaded it with valuables stolen from the people, a large quantity of public and private money, many of the public and private records and all the papers and certificates of the loan and treasury offices. With these rich prizes the marauders returned to camp, but on the 12th and 13th Wilmington was occupied in force by the British, while the men-of-war Roebuck and Liverpool laid opposite the town. Many of the British wounded had been brought into Wilmington, and the people at least knew that they were safe from bombardment so long as any of their houses were turned into British hospitals."

When the British left Philadelphia in June 1778, McKinly was transferred to Flatbush, New York. He was finally paroled in August 1778, having been exchanged for William Franklin, Loyalist Governor of New Jersey, and Benjamin Franklin's son.

{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center" !colspan=12 style="background: #ccccff;" |Delaware General Assembly (sessions while President) !Year !Assembly ! !Senate Majority !Speaker ! !House Majority !Speaker
 * -bgcolor=#cccccc
 * 1776-1777
 * 1st
 * |non-partisan
 * |George Read
 * |non-partisan
 * |Thomas McKean
 * |non-partisan
 * |Thomas McKean
 * |Thomas McKean

Professional career
McKinly returned to his medical practice and remained active in Wilmington affairs. He never held political office again, refusing an appointment to the Continental Congress and losing a General Assembly election for his old job as President in February 1783. He helped found the Delaware Medical Society in 1789 and was a member of the Newark Academy Board of Trustees before 1783 and President of the Board from 1794 until his death in 1796. The Academy of Newark eventually developed into the University of Delaware. He was known to have contributed to the salaries of the teachers in the school and sponsored many students in their education.

Death and legacy
McKinly died August 21 1796 in Wilmington, Delaware, was buried first at the Presbyterian Churchyard in Wilmington. His remains were moved to the Wilmington & Brandywine Cemetery, in Wilmington in 1922. There is a marker placed in his memory in the cemetery at South Park Drive, near its intersection with North Adams Street.

McKinly was the only Chief Executive of Delaware known to have been born in a foreign country. Although he was Ulster-Scot, and from New Castle County, he was a moderate on the issue of independence, who viewed the break with Britain with reluctance and regret, and therefore, was widely acceptable in Kent County and Sussex County. George Read was his political ally and mentor, and most likely lined up the support for his election as President. Thomas McKean and his allies were, therefore, generally opponents. Ardent revolutionaries such as James Tilton referred to him as "a patch on the back of George Read," and an "old woman." McKinly always blamed Thomas McKean for the lengthy captivity he endured.

The John McKinly Laboratory at the University of Delaware is named in his honor.

There is no known portrait of John McKinly.

Almanac
Elections were held October 1st. Members of the General Assembly took office on October 20th, or the following weekday. State Assemblymen had a one year term. The General Assembly chose the State President for a three year term.

{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center" !colspan=7 style="background: #ccccff;" | Public Offices ! Office ! Type ! Location ! Elected ! Took Office ! Left Office ! notes
 * -bgcolor=#cccccc
 * Sheriff
 * Judiciary
 * New Castle
 * 1757
 * October 4 1757
 * October 3 1760
 * New Castle County
 * Chief Burgess
 * Executive
 * Wilmington
 * 1758
 * October 20 1758
 * October 20 1761
 * Wilmington
 * Chief Burgess
 * Executive
 * Wilmington
 * 1766
 * October 20 1766
 * October 20 1769
 * Wilmington
 * Chief Burgess
 * Executive
 * Wilmington
 * 1770
 * October 20 1770
 * October 20 1773
 * Wilmington
 * Assemblyman
 * Legislature
 * New Castle
 * 1771
 * October 21 1771
 * October 20 1772
 * Assemblyman
 * Legislature
 * New Castle
 * 1772
 * October 20 1772
 * October 20 1773
 * Assemblyman
 * Legislature
 * New Castle
 * 1773
 * October 20 1773
 * October 20 1774
 * Assemblyman
 * Legislature
 * New Castle
 * 1774
 * October 20 1774
 * October 20 1775
 * Chief Burgess
 * Executive
 * Wilmington
 * 1774
 * October 20 1774
 * October 28 1776
 * Wilmington
 * Assemblyman
 * Legislature
 * New Castle
 * 1775
 * October 20 1775
 * June 15 1776
 * President
 * Executive
 * New Castle
 * June 15 1776
 * October 28 1776
 * Council of Safety
 * State Representative
 * Legislature
 * New Castle
 * 1776
 * October 28 1776
 * February 12 1777
 * Speaker
 * State President
 * Executive
 * New Castle
 * February 12 1777
 * September 22 1777
 * New Castle
 * June 15 1776
 * October 28 1776
 * Council of Safety
 * State Representative
 * Legislature
 * New Castle
 * 1776
 * October 28 1776
 * February 12 1777
 * Speaker
 * State President
 * Executive
 * New Castle
 * February 12 1777
 * September 22 1777
 * New Castle
 * February 12 1777
 * September 22 1777
 * September 22 1777

Places with more information

 * Historical Society of Delaware 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware (302) 655-7161
 * University of Delaware Library 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 831-2965