Biography

01/27/1755 - 02/26/1829

Major General John Rea (D15) Franklin County 1823-1824

Early Life:

Major General John Rea, born January 27, 1755, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America; son of Samuel and Martha Greer Wallace Rea; preparatory studies; lieutenant, captain, Cumberland County Pennsylvania Militia, Revolutionary War, 1775-1780; promoted, Brigadier General, Pennsylvania Militia after the War; Major General, 27th Division, Pennsylvania Militia, War of 1812; commissioned, first coroner, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, 1784; elected, Constitutionalist, Pennsylvania General Assembly, 1785-1786; elected, Constitutionalist, Pennsylvania General Assembly, 1789-1790; elected, Democratic Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1792-1793; auditor, Franklin County, 1793-1794; elected, Democratic Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1797-1798; elected, Democratic Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1800-1802; elected, United States House of Representatives, 1803-1811; unsuccessful congressional candidate for reelection, 1810; married, Elizabeth Culbertson Rea, children, Samuel Rea, John P. Rea, Andrew Jackson Rea, William Rea, Charles Rea; returned, United States House of Representatives, vacancy, death, 1813-1815; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1823- resigned, 1824; died, February 26, 1829 (age 74 years, 30 days), Chambersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania; interment, Rocky Spring Churchyard, Chambersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Commissioned, first coroner, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, October 20, 1784.

Elected, Constitutionalist, Pennsylvania General Assembly, Franklin County, 1785-1786. 

Elected, Constitutionalist, Pennsylvania General Assembly, Franklin County, 1789-1790.

Elected, Democratic Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Franklin County, 1792-1793. 

Auditor, Franklin County, 1793-1794.  

Elected, Democratic Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Franklin County, 1797-1798.

Elected, Democratic Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Franklin County, 1800-1802.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 15th district, Franklin County, 1823-1824, resigned his seat prior to the beginning of the 1824-1825 session, replaced by James Dunlop. Pennsylvania Intelligencer (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) November 2, 1824.

Government Service/National Politics:

Elected, United States House of Representatives, 7th district, March 4, 1803-March 3, 1811; unsuccessful congressional candidate for reelection, 1810; returned, United States House of Representatives, vacancy, death, Robert Whitehill, 5th district, May 11, 1813-March 3, 1815. 

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members "R"". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University. 

A New Nation Votes (tufts.edu)

John Rea (1755-1829) - Find a Grave Memorial