THOMAS M'KEAN, L.L.D.-Preliminary remarks-M'Kean one of the signers
of the Declaration of Independence-First Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court of Pennsylvania-Appointed on the 28th of July, 1777-Continued
until 1779-Elected governor-Succeeded as Chief Justice by Edward
Shippen a prior associate-Incidental notice of JUDGE SHIPPEN-Birth
-His parents-Sent to Middle Temple-Returns to Philadelphia-Ad-
mitted upon his certificate of "utter barrister" to practice in Supreme
Court of Pennsylvania—A man of learning and a safe judge-Upon the
bench, from 1791, until 1799, as an associate-Importance of legal educa-
tion at the Temple overrated, (note)—The judges of the time well
founded in legal principles and practice-Been clerks and protho-
notaries-Effect of general knowledge upon judicial character-A judge
expected to know everything-Chief Justice of King's Bench and Jack
Tar-Personal appearance of Judge Shippen-Resigns in 1805-Died
on 16th April, 1806-Portrait in Law Library-M'Kean-Birth-Of
Irish extraction-Parentage-Studies law with a maternal relative—
Admitted to practice in Supreme Court in 1757-formerly prothonotary,
&c.-Selected to revise the laws in 1762-Becomes Governor of Penn-
sylvania in 1789-Continues three terms-Always considered a sound
lawyer-A theoretic democrat, though somewhat aristocratic in prac-
tice Fondness for titles-An instance thereof-Ceremony in opening
his court-A man of inflexible honesty and undoubted ability-Strong
prejudices-Jealous of authority-Sternness on the bench-Indepen-
dence of the bar in his time-Governeur Morris-William Lewis-
Never wavered in his duty-Warrant for the arrest of Colonel Hooper
(for libel)-General Green writes to Chief Justice on the subject-Reply
and rebuke from M'Kean-Case of the Chevalier de Longchamps for
assault upon Marbois-Sentenced by M'Kean-Respublica v. Oswald,
(libel and attachment)-Statement of the origin and course of the
case—Lewis for the prosecution, Jonathan Dickenson Sergeant for de-
fendant-Decision and sentence by chief justice-Attempt to impeach
chief justice (note)—Style imitates Mansfield-Resembled Holt more—
Notice of Lord Mansfield's course after destruction of his library-Stan-
zas by Cowper-M'Kean summoned by sheriff as one of his posse-
Riot suppressed by him-Account doubtful from its resemblance to a
similar anecdote of Holt-Governor M'Kean applied to by a committee
opposed to Tilghman's appointment as chief justice-His deportment,
and refusal to comply with their demands-Conduct towards a com-
mittee requiring him to withdraw a veto-Deserved rebuke-Refuses
the address to remove Breckenridge-"May" sometimes means "wont” —