Robert McClelland (American politician)
Robert McClelland | |
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4th United 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 |
9th Governor 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 the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 1st district | |
In office March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1849 | |
Preceded by | Jacob M. Howard (at-large) |
Succeeded by | Alexander W. Buel |
Personal details | |
Born | Greencastle, Pennsylvania, U.S. | August 1, 1807
Died | August 30, 1880 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | (aged 73)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Sarah Sabine |
Education | Dickinson College (BA) |
Robert McClelland (August 1, 1807 – August 30, 1880) was an American
Early life in Pennsylvania
He was born in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, the son of a prominent Franklin County doctor. He entered Dickinson College at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and graduated among the top of his class in 1829. He studied law and was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1831 and practiced law in Pittsburgh for a short time before moving in 1833 to Monroe in what was then the Territory of Michigan.[1]
Life and politics in Michigan
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, Governor
McClelland served on the board of regents of the
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 as Governor 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 the Compromise of 1850. He played a prominent role at the national Democratic convention of 1852.[2] He resigned as governor in March 1853 to become the Secretary of the Interior under Franklin Pierce, and was succeeded by his second Lieutenant Governor Andrew Parsons.[1]
Retirement and death
Following the inauguration of James Buchanan in 1857, McClelland retired from public office and began a private law practice in Detroit.[3] In 1867, he briefly returned to public service as a member of the Michigan constitutional convention.[2]
McClelland died in Detroit at the age of 73, and is interred at Elmwood Cemetery.[3]
His former residence at 47 East Elm Avenue in Monroe, Michigan, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 as the Governor Robert McClelland House, and is today privately owned.[4][5]
References
- ^ a b c d Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan. Chicago: Chapman Bros. 1892. pp. 129–130.
- ^ a b c d "Robert McClelland from the Dictionary of American Biography, Volume XI, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1933". McClelland Genealogy. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ a b c United States Congress. "Robert McClelland (id: M000334)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ^ Constance Henslee (January 26, 1971), NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM: Governor Robert McClelland House (note: large pdf file)
- ^ State of Michigan (2001–2003). "McClelland, Governor Robert, House". Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
External links
- Robert McClelland entry at the National Governors Association
- Robert McClelland entry at The Political Graveyard
- Robert McClelland at Find a Grave
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress