Blair McClenachan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania | |
| In office March 4, 1797 – March 3, 1799 | |
| Preceded by | Frederick Muhlenberg |
| Succeeded by | Michael Leib |
| Constituency | 2nd district |
| Member of thePennsylvania House of Representatives | |
| In office 1790–1795 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1734 or 1735 |
| Died | (aged 77) Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
| Profession | Merchant |
Blair McClenachan (c. 1735 – May 9, 1812) was an Irish-born American merchant and politician fromPennsylvania. He served one term in theUnited States House of Representatives from 1797 to 1799. Previously, he served in thePennsylvania House of Representatives.
McClenachan was born in theKingdom of Ireland in about 1735. He immigrated to the United States at an early age and settled inPhiladelphia. He was described by Thomas Jefferson as a trader, banker, and shipowner. During theAmerican Revolutionary War he was one of the founders of and served with theFirst Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry. When theContinental Congress sought to raise money for the army in 1780, McClenachan andRobert Morris were the two highest subscribers to the effort.[1][2]
He was a member of theDemocratic-Republican Party. In1788, he was a candidate forPennsylvania's at-large congressional district.[3] From 1790 to 1795, he was a member of thePennsylvania House of Representatives. In 1796, he defeatedRobert Waln to win election to the5th United States Congress fromPennsylvania's 2nd congressional district.[4] He served only one term.
After his service in Congress, his businesses failed and a fraudulent transfer of his assets to his children resulted in McClenachan losing much of his fortune and led to his imprisonment for debt. In 1802, he wrote to PresidentThomas Jefferson, seeking the position of Purveyor of Stores. Jefferson later appointedTench Coxe to fill the position.[2]
McClenachan had six children. In 1781, his daughter, Deborah, marriedColonel Walter Stewart, later Inspector General of the Continental Army and then Major General of the Pennsylvania Militia.
He died in a "fit ofapoplexy" on Saturday, May 9, 1812, in Philadelphia, at the age of 77.[5] He was interred in a vault in St. Paul's Cemetery.[6]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromPennsylvania's 2nd congressional district 1797–1799 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
