John McKinley | |
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| Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States | |
| In office April 22, 1837 – July 19, 1852 | |
| Nominated by | Martin Van Buren |
| Preceded by | Seat established |
| Succeeded by | John Archibald Campbell |
| United States Senator fromAlabama | |
| In office March 4, 1837 – April 22, 1837 | |
| Preceded by | Gabriel Moore |
| Succeeded by | Clement Clay |
| In office November 27, 1826 – March 3, 1831 | |
| Preceded by | Israel Pickens |
| Succeeded by | Gabriel Moore |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromAlabama's2nd district | |
| In office March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1835 | |
| Preceded by | Samuel Mardis |
| Succeeded by | Joshua Martin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1780-05-01)May 1, 1780 |
| Died | July 19, 1852(1852-07-19) (aged 72) Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Resting place | Cave Hill Cemetery Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican (c. 1815–1825) Jacksonian/Democratic(1826–1852) |
| Other political affiliations | Federalist (before 1815)[1] |
John McKinley (May 1, 1780 – July 19, 1852) was aUnited States Senator from thestate ofAlabama and anassociate justice of theSupreme Court of the United States.
McKinley was born inCulpeper County,Virginia, on May 1, 1780, to Andrew McKinley and Mary (Logan) McKinley (sister ofBenjamin Logan). His family moved toKentucky in 1783.[2] There, heread law and wasadmitted to the bar in 1800, practicing inFrankfort and inLouisville.[3] During theWar of 1812, he was actively involved inmilitary affairs and wrote toPresident James Madison expressing his desire to serve and requesting a major's commission, but he did not receive a commission.[4][5] In 1818, he moved toAlabama. He established legal practice inHuntsville, and also actively engaged in landspeculation.[6]
McKinley was elected to theAlabama House of Representatives in August 1820.[6] the next year he moved his family from Huntsville toFlorence, and so was ineligible for re-election.[7]
When failing health forcedJohn Williams Walker to resign from theUnited States Senate in 1822, Mckinley was the favored candidate in thespecial election to fill the vacancy, but lost toWilliam Kelly by a one-vote margin.[8]
November 27, 1826, he was elected as aJacksonian to finish the unexpired term of SenatorHenry H. Chambers, who died in office.[9] When he sought re-election in 1830, he lost toGabriel Moore.[6]
During the 1830s, McKinley was twice elected to the Alabama House, in 1831 and 1836. In between he served one term in theUnited States House of Representatives, during the 1833–3523rd Congress.[3] There he was a champion of PresidentAndrew Jackson's political agenda.[10] He also was aPresidential Elector in the1836 presidential election, casting his vote forMartin Van Buren.[6] McKinley was again elected to the U.S. Senate in 1836,[10] this time easily defeating Gabriel Moore.[6] He did not remain in office long however, as he resigned in April 1837, to take a seat on theUnited States Supreme Court.
The number of seats on the Supreme Court was expanded from seven to nine in March 1837, as a result of theEighth and Ninth Circuits Act.[11] This allowed President Jackson the opportunity to appoint two newassociate justices, which he did on March 3, 1837, his last full day in office. The newly seated Senate of the25th Congress confirmed both nominees; but one,William Smith, subsequently declined to serve.[12]
President Martin Van Buren offered McKinley arecess appointment to the vacant seat on April 22, 1837, and later formally nominated him to for it on September 18, 1837. McKinley was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on September 25, 1837, by a voice vote.[13]
McKinley was assigned to the ninthcircuit, which encompassed the states of: Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas.[6]
During his 14 years on the Court, McKinley wrote 22 opinions, several of which were dissenting opinions in the interest of preservingStates' rights.[6]
Noteworthy opinions include:Bank of Augusta v. Earle (1839);Groves v. Slaughter (1841);Pollard v. Hagan (1845) andPassenger Cases (1849).[6][14]
McKinley was married twice. In 1814, he married Juliana Bryan (d. 1822).[15] They had three children: Elizabeth, Andrew and Mary.[16] In 1824, he married Elizabeth Armistead (d. 1891). They had no children.[17]
In 1821, McKinley was appointed to serve on the original board of trustees for theUniversity of Alabama and helped plan the campus design and curriculum.[7] He was also a founding member of the First Presbyterian Church of Florence, Alabama,[6] where he was elected as anelder in 1826.[18]
McKinley owned twelve slaves at the time of the 1850 census.[19]
McKinley moved his family toLouisville, Kentucky soon after his appointment to the Supreme Court. He later died there on July 19, 1852, at the age of 72,[6] and is buried atCave Hill Cemetery.
The community ofMcKinley, Alabama is named in his honor.[20]
TheWorld War IILiberty shipSS John McKinley was named in his honor.[21]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromAlabama's 2nd congressional district March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1835 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 3) from Alabama 1826–1831 Served alongside:William King | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 3) from Alabama 1837 Served alongside:William King | Succeeded by |
| Legal offices | ||
| New seat | Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States 1838–1852 | Succeeded by |
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