Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 07.djvu/195

 Mcknight

McLANE

years 1870-72 was disabled by sickness from liolding a charge. He was pastor at St. Paul's church, Easton, Pa., 1872-80 ; of the First English Lutheran church, Cincinnati, Oliio, 1880-84, and of Trinity Lutheran church at Hagerstown, Md., a few months in 1884. He was elected president of Pennsylvania college, Gettys- burg, Pa., in 1884, and also served as president of the general synod of the Luth- eran church of the United States, 1889-91. He was one of the founders of the Pennsylvania Chautauqua. He received the degree of D.D. from Monmouth college, 111., in 1883, and that of LL.D. from La- fayette college. Pa., in 1889. He is the author of : Historical Address at the Semi- Centennial of Penn- sylvania College (1883); Inaugural Address (1884). McKNIQHT, Robert, representative, was born in Pittsburg, Pa., Jan. 27, 1820; third son of William and Catherine (McClurg) McKnight. He was prepared for college by the Rev. Hugh McMillan of Xenia, Ohio, and was graduated from the College of New Jersey, A.B., 1839, A.M., 1842. He was admitted to the bar in 1842, and settled in practice in Pittsburg, where he was a member of the common council, 1847-49, and president of that body, 1848-49. He was a Re- publican representative in the 36th and 37tli con- gresses, 1859-63, and as a member of the com- mittee on foreign affairs he addressed the house in favor of the bill for the recognition of Haiti and Liberia. He was married. May 27, 1847, to Elizabeth O'Hara, daughter of the Hon. Harmar Denny (q. v.), and granddaughter of James O'Hara, the first quartermaster-general in the United States. Mr. McKnight was for many years a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church and a member of the general assembly of that church in 1865, 1866, 1868, 1869 and 1873. In June, 1884, he was a commissioner to the Pan Presbyterian council at Belfast, Ireland. He died in Pittsburg, Pa., Oct. 25, 1885.

McLACHLAN, James, representative, was born in Argyllshire, Scotland, in August, 1852. His parents settled jn Tompkins county, N.Y., in 1855, where James attended school, worked on a farm, began teaching in 1868, and prepared him- self for college. He was graduated from Hamil- ton in 1878 ; was commissioner of public schools in Tompkins county, 1878-81 ; was admitted to the bar in 1881, and practised in Ithaca, N.Y., 1881-88. He removed to Pasadena, Cal., in 1888, and established himself in law practice. He was district attorney of Los Angeles county, 1890-94, was a Republican representative in the 54tli con- gress. 1895-97 ; and he was re-elected to the 57th and 58th congresses, 1901-05.

McLAlN, Frank Alexander, representative, was born in Amite county, Miss., Jan. 29, 1853. He was graduated from the University of Missis' sippi in 1874 ; studied law, and began practice in Liberty, Miss., in 1880. He was a representative in the state legislature, 1881-83 ; district-attorney, 1883-95, and a member of the state constitutional convention in 1890. He removed to Gloster, Miss., and resumed his law practice. He was a Democratic representative in the 55th congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William Franklin Lore, Oct. 17, 1898, and was re-elected to the 56tli, 57th and 58th congresses, 1899-1905.

McLANAHAN, James Xavier, representative, was born in Antrim township. Pa., in 1809 ; son of William and Mary (Gregg) McLanahan, and grandson of James McLanahan and of Senator Andrew Gregg. He was graduated from Dick- inson college. Pa., in 1826, and studied law in Carlisle and Chambersburg. He settled in prac- tice in Chambersburg in 1830, and was a state senator, 1840-43, and Democratic representative in the 31st and 32d congresses, 1849-53. He was chairman of the judiciary committee in the 32d congress. He was married in 1843 to Anne M., daughter of James McBride, a merchant of New York city, and in 1901 had living : a son, George William McLanahan of Washington, D.C., a grandson, James Xavier McLanahan, and a great- grandson, Duer McLanahan of New York city. He removed from Chambersburg to New York city in 1856 and died there, Dec. 16, 1861.

McLANE, Louis, cabinet officer, was born in Smyrna, Del., May 28, 1786 ; son of Allan Mc- Lane (1746-1829), a soldier in the American army, 1775-83, and collector of the port of Wil- mington, Del., 1808-29. Louis was warranted a midshipman in the U.S. navy in 1798, and served under Com. Stephen Decatur on the frigate Philadelphia, 1798-99. He left the navy in 1801 in accordance with the wishes of his mother and was graduated from Newark college, Dela- ware ; studied law in the office of James A. Bayard ; was admitted to the bar in 1807 and practised in Smyrna, Del. He was married in 1812 to Catharine Mary, daughter of Robert and Sally (Jones) Milligan. During the war of 1812 he was engaged on the fortifications of the town and joined Caesar A. Rodney's company of volun- teers, organized for the defence of Baltimore, in 1814. He was a Democratic representative in the 15th-19th congresses, 1817-27. He was opposed to the admission of slavery into the newly admitted state of Missouri, and although instructed by the legislature of his state to vote in favor of the measure, he cast his ballot against it. He was U.S. senator from Delaware, 1827-29, and resigned in 1829 on being appointed U.S. minister to the court of St. James, England.