Biography

01/22/1749 - 09/15/1824

Judge John Barclay (Federalist1) Philadelphia City and Philadelphia County 1810-1814 

Early Life:

Judge John Barclay, born January 22, 1749, Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland; son of James and Margaret Craig Barclay; shipping merchant; member, Continental Army, American Revolution, 1775-1782; married, Jane Crawford (d.1804); married, Esther Barclay, two sons, John Lewis Barclay, James Medray Barclay; appointed, justice of the peace, 1782; President Judge, Courts of Bucks County, 1789; aldermen selected to serve in Philadelphia under the city charter of April 1790; elected, delegate, Constitutional Convention, 1789-1790; elected, Federalist, mayor of Philadelphia, 1791-1792; president, Bank of Pennsylvania, 1793; cofounder, director, Insurance Company of North America, 1792-1793; unsuccessful campaign, Republican, United States, House of Representatives, 1792; unsuccessful campaign, Republican, Pennsylvania Congressman, 4th district, United States, House of Representatives, 1794; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania Auditor, 1809; elected, Federalist Pennsylvania State Senate, 1810-1814; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania Auditor, 1811; elected, Republican, Federalist, Pennsylvania Commissioner, Northern Liberties Township, 1820; elected, Republican, Federalist, Pennsylvania Commissioner, Philadelphia County, Northern Liberties Township, 1823; first president, Bank of Northern Liberties, Philadelphia; died, September 15, 1824 (aged 75), Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; Neshaminy Cemetery, Hartsville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. 

Early Career:

Member, Continental Army, American Revolution, enlisted, 1775, commissioned, ensign, 1776; promoted, lieutenant, captain, retired, Continental Army, 1782. One of fifteen aldermen selected to serve in Philadelphia under the city charter of April 1790. President, Bank of Pennsylvania after the Pennsylvania Assembly established its charter, 1793; cofounder, director, Insurance Company of North America, 1792-1793. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Appointed, justice of the peace, 1782. 

President Judge, Courts of Bucks County, 1789.

Aldermen, selected to serve in Philadelphia under the city charter of April 1790. 

Elected, Delegate, Constitutional Convention, 1789-1790. 

Elected, Federalist, 47th Mayor of Philadelphia, 1791-1792.

Unsuccessful campaign, Republican, Pennsylvania Congressman, United States, House of Representatives, 1792.

Unsuccessful campaign, Republican, Pennsylvania Congressman, 4th district, United States, House of Representatives, 1794.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania Auditor, Philadelphia City, Philadelphia County, 1809.

Elected, Federalist, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1st district, Philadelphia City and Philadelphia County, 1810-1814. 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania Auditor, Philadelphia City, Philadelphia County, 1811.

Elected, supported by both parties, Republican, Federalist, Pennsylvania Commissioner, Northern Liberties Township, 1820.

Elected, supported by both parties, Republican, Federalist, Pennsylvania Commissioner, Philadelphia County, Northern Liberties Township, 1823.

Legacy:

John Barclay Elementary School, Warrington, Pennsylvania, is named for him.

Cited:

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

A New Nation Votes (tufts.edu)

A New Nation Votes (tufts.edu)

A New Nation Votes (tufts.edu)

John Barclay (1749-1824) - Find a Grave Memorial