Samuel Maclay
Encyclopedia
Samuel Maclay was an American
surveyor, farmer, and politician from Union County, Pennsylvania
. He served in the state legislature
and represented Pennsylvania
in both the U.S. House
and the United States Senate
.
. He was born in Lurgan Township, Pennsylvania
, at Maclay's Mill
and served in the Revolutionary War.
In 1790, Maclay performed his first state work as a surveyor of the streams of northwestern Pennsylvania. He became an associate judge of Franklin County, Pennsylvania
and served between 1792 and 1975. Maclay was the father of William Plunkett Maclay
.
Congress. He served as a member of the lower house
of the State legislature in 1797 and was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate
from 1798 to 1802 and served as speaker from 1801 to 1802.
He was elected to the United States Senate as a Democratic Republican by the Pennsylvania legislature and began service in 1803. Popular among Pennsylvanians, he was an infrequent Senate speaker, but was frequently mentioned as his party's possible candidate for governor, but was passed over in favor of Simon Snyder
.
Maclay opposed the nomination of James Madison
to the presidency by the Democratic Republicans. He doubted how committed Madison was to the party, considering him a late convert, and backed George Clinton
instead. Furthermore, Maclay was an opponent of the Embargo Act which had been passed during President Jefferson's
second term. Despite the eventual repeal of the Embargo Act, Madison secured Pennsylvania's support and Maclay realized that he was out of step with his fellow party members and Pennsylvanians. Seeing no hope of reelection, he resigned from the Senate in 1809.
Maclay served in the Senate from March 4, 1803, until his resignation on January 4, 1809. He retired to Buffalo Township, Pennsylvania
, where he died, aged 70. He was interred in the Driesbach Church Cemetery in Union County.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
surveyor, farmer, and politician from Union County, Pennsylvania
Union County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 41,624 people, 13,178 households, and 9,211 families residing in the county. The population density was 131 people per square mile . There were 14,684 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
. He served in the state legislature
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
and represented Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in both the U.S. House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
.
Biography
Maclay was born the younger brother of future Pennsylvania senator William MaclayWilliam Maclay
William Maclay was a politician from Pennsylvania during the eighteenth century.-Biography:Maclay pursued classical studies, and then served as a lieutenant in an expedition to Fort Duquesne in 1758. He went on to serve in other expeditions in the French and Indian Wars. He studied law and was...
. He was born in Lurgan Township, Pennsylvania
Lurgan Township, Pennsylvania
Lurgan Township is a township in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,014 at the 2000 census.It was named after the town of Lurgan in Northern Ireland.-Geography:...
, at Maclay's Mill
Maclay's Mill
Maclay's Mill is the former site of a grist mill located approximately four miles from Shippensburg, Pennsylvania along the Conodoguinet Creek..-History:...
and served in the Revolutionary War.
In 1790, Maclay performed his first state work as a surveyor of the streams of northwestern Pennsylvania. He became an associate judge of Franklin County, Pennsylvania
Franklin County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 129,313 people, 50,633 households, and 36,405 families residing in the county. The population density was 168 people per square mile . There were 53,803 housing units at an average density of 70 per square mile...
and served between 1792 and 1975. Maclay was the father of William Plunkett Maclay
William Plunkett Maclay
William Plunkett Maclay was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.William P. Maclay was born in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania...
.
Political life
Maclay was elected to the Fourth4th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Senate :* President: John Adams * President pro tempore:** Henry Tazewell , first elected December 7, 1795** Samuel Livermore , first elected May 6, 1796** William Bingham , first elected February 16, 1797...
Congress. He served as a member of the lower house
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
of the State legislature in 1797 and was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania State Senate
The Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...
from 1798 to 1802 and served as speaker from 1801 to 1802.
He was elected to the United States Senate as a Democratic Republican by the Pennsylvania legislature and began service in 1803. Popular among Pennsylvanians, he was an infrequent Senate speaker, but was frequently mentioned as his party's possible candidate for governor, but was passed over in favor of Simon Snyder
Simon Snyder
Simon Snyder was the third Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 1808 to 1817. A Jeffersonian Democrat, he served three terms as speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives before becoming governor...
.
Maclay opposed the nomination of James Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
to the presidency by the Democratic Republicans. He doubted how committed Madison was to the party, considering him a late convert, and backed George Clinton
George Clinton (vice president)
George Clinton was an American soldier and politician, considered one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was the first Governor of New York, and then the fourth Vice President of the United States , serving under Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. He and John C...
instead. Furthermore, Maclay was an opponent of the Embargo Act which had been passed during President Jefferson's
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
second term. Despite the eventual repeal of the Embargo Act, Madison secured Pennsylvania's support and Maclay realized that he was out of step with his fellow party members and Pennsylvanians. Seeing no hope of reelection, he resigned from the Senate in 1809.
Maclay served in the Senate from March 4, 1803, until his resignation on January 4, 1809. He retired to Buffalo Township, Pennsylvania
Buffalo Township, Union County, Pennsylvania
Buffalo Township is a township in Union County, Pennsylvania, United States of America. The population was 3,207 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , all of it land....
, where he died, aged 70. He was interred in the Driesbach Church Cemetery in Union County.