Robert McClelland | |
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| 4thUnited States Secretary of the Interior | |
| In office March 8, 1853 – March 9, 1857 | |
| President | Franklin Pierce James Buchanan |
| Preceded by | Alexander Stuart |
| Succeeded by | Jacob Thompson |
| 9thGovernor of Michigan | |
| In office January 1, 1852 – March 7, 1853 | |
| Lieutenant | Calvin Britain Andrew Parsons |
| Preceded by | John S. Barry |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Parsons |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMichigan's1st district | |
| In office March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1849 | |
| Preceded by | Jacob M. Howard (at-large) |
| Succeeded by | Alexander W. Buel |
| Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives | |
| In office 1843 | |
| Preceded by | Kinsley S. Bingham |
| Succeeded by | Edwin H. Lothrop |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1807-08-01)August 1, 1807 |
| Died | August 30, 1880(1880-08-30) (aged 73) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Sarah Sabine |
| Education | Dickinson College (BA) |
Robert McClelland (August 1, 1807 – August 30, 1880) was an Americanstatesman, serving asU.S. Representative fromMichigan, the ninthgovernor of Michigan, andUnited States Secretary of the Interior.
He was born inGreencastle, Pennsylvania, the son of a prominentFranklin County doctor. He enteredDickinson College atCarlisle, Pennsylvania, and graduated among the top of his class in 1829. He studied law and was admitted to the Pennsylvaniabar in 1831 and practiced law inPittsburgh for a short time before moving in 1833 toMonroe in what was then theTerritory of Michigan.[1]
McClelland became a member of the Michigan bar and established a successful law practice in Monroe, and he was a member of the constitutional convention in 1835. After Michigan became a state, GovernorStevens T. Mason offered the positions of state Bank Commissioner and stateAttorney General, both of which he declined in order to develop his private practice, although he maintained an active role in the new state'sDemocratic Party.[1] In 1836, McClelland married Sarah Elizabeth Sabine, with whom he had six children.[2]
McClelland served on the board of regents of theUniversity of Michigan in 1837 and again in 1850. He representedMonroe County in theMichigan House of Representatives in 1838, 1840 and was speaker of the house in 1843. He served as the mayor of Monroe in 1841. He was elected in 1842 asU.S. Representative fromMichigan's 1st congressional district, serving from 1843 to 1849 in the28th,29th, and30th congresses.[3] Going against the general opinion of the Democratic Party, he was a strong advocate of theWilmot Proviso, which would have restricted the spread of slavery to new states. He was active in supporting his friendLewis Cass's unsuccessful run for president in 1848 and did not seek reelection in that year.[1][2]
McClelland played a prominent role in the Michigan's constitutional convention of 1850. Due to changes adopted in that constitution, he was elected to a one-year term asGovernor of Michigan in 1851. He was re-elected to a full two-year term in 1852. During his tenure, he softened his support of the Wilmot Proviso and instead urged support for theCompromise of 1850. He played a prominent role at the national Democratic convention of 1852.[2] He resigned as governor in March 1853 to become theSecretary of the Interior underFranklin Pierce, and was succeeded by his second Lieutenant GovernorAndrew Parsons.[1]
Following the inauguration ofJames Buchanan in 1857, McClelland retired from public office and began a private law practice inDetroit.[3] In 1867, he briefly returned to public service as a member of the Michigan constitutional convention.[2]
In September 1861 (Former president)Franklin Pierce traveled toMonroe County[3] andDetroit[3] Michigan, visiting Robert McClelland;former senatorLewis Cass.[1]
McClelland died in Detroit at the age of 73, and is interred atElmwood Cemetery.[3]
His former residence at 47 East Elm Avenue inMonroe, Michigan, was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 1971 as theGovernor Robert McClelland House, and is today privately owned.[4][5]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives 1843 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of Michigan 1852–1853 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | United States Secretary of the Interior 1853–1857 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMichigan's 1st congressional district 1843–1849 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of theHouse Commerce Committee 1845–1847 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Michigan 1851,1852 | Succeeded by |
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| Secretary of the Interior |
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| Interstate and Foreign Commerce (1893–1981) | ||
| Energy and Commerce (1981–present) | ||
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This article incorporatespublic domain material fromBiographical Directory of the United States Congress.Federal government of the United States.
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