McLean, John

Born March 11, 1785, in Morris County, NJ
Died April 4, 1861, in Cincinnati, OH

Federal Judicial Service:
Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the United States
Nominated by Andrew Jackson on March 6, 1829, to a seat vacated by Robert Trimble. Confirmed by the Senate on March 7, 1829, and received commission on March 7, 1829. Service terminated on April 4, 1861, due to death.

Supreme Court Oath:
March 12, 1829

Allotment as Circuit Justice:

Seventh Circuit, ca. May 4, 1829-April 4, 1861

Education:
Read law, 1807

Professional Career:

Founder/editor, The Western Star, 1807-1812
Private practice, Lebanon, Ohio, 1807-1812
Examiner, U.S. Congressional Land Office, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1811-1812
U.S. representative from Ohio, 1813-1816
Justice, Supreme Court of Ohio, 1816-1822
Commissioner, U.S. Land Office, 1822-1823
Postmaster general of the United States, 1823-1829

Bibliography

Finkelman, Paul. “John McLean: Moderate Abolitionist and Supreme Court Politician.” Vanderbilt Law Review, vol. 62, no. 2 (Mar. 2009): 519-66.

Jacobsen, John Gregory. Jackson's Judges: Six Appointments Which Shaped a Nation. Covenant Books: Murrell's Inlet, S.C., 2024.

Weisenburger, Francis P. “John McLean, Postmaster-General.” Mississippi Valley Historical Review, vol. 18, no. 1 (Jun. 1931): 23-33.

Manuscript Collections

Harvard Law School
Cambridge, Mass.
John McLean letters, 1826, 1828.
2 sheets; 1826 letter to the Secretary of War regarding the pension of a Mr. Osborn; 1828 letter to U.S. Senator Albion K. Parris regarding his acceptance of a seat on the Maine Supreme Court.

Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
John McLean papers, 1817-1861.
8 ft. (3,500 items); finding aid; collection contains correspondence, legal briefs, financial data, docket book (ca. 1820), reports, opinions, briefs arranged by case name, and other papers; microfilm copy available at Yale University.

University of Michigan
William Clements Library
Ann Arbor, Mich.
John McLean papers, 1828-1852.
8 items; finding aid.

Ohio Historical Society
Columbus, Ohio
John McLean papers, 1816-1859.
0.25 ft. and 18 microfilm reels; finding aid; political correspondence with John Teesdale, E.A. Brown, and Ulysses Pilliman.

Federal Judicial Center

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McLean, John