John McLean Biography
John McLean was a United States Representative and a Senator from Illinois. He was born near Guilford Court House (now Greensboro), Guilford County, North Carolina, on February 4, 1791. He moved with his parents to Logan County, Kentucky in 1795. He then moved to Illinois Territory in 1815. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar and began his law practice in Shawneetown, Gallatin County, Illinois. When Illinois was admitted into the Union as a State, McLean was elected to the Fifteenth Congress, and served from December 3, 1818, to March 3, 1819. He failed to be re-elected in 1818 to the Sixteenth Congress. He was also an unsuccessful candidate for congress in the 1820 and 1822 elections. He was elected to the Illinois State House of Representatives in 1820, 1826, and 1828, and served as speaker. In 1824, McLean was elected to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Ninian Edwards and served from November 23, 1824 to March 3, 1825. He did not stand for reelection, but resumed the practice of law. He was again elected to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1829, until his death on October 14, 1830, aged 39, in Shawneetown, Illinois. He was interred in Westwood Cemetery, near Shawneetown.
Source: This biography uses some facts obtained from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.