Alexander McNair

Alexander McNair ( born May 5, 1775 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, † March 18, 1826 in St. Louis, Missouri ) was an American politician and from 1820 to 1824, the first governor of Missouri.

Early years and political rise

McNair attended the local schools of his home. He then studied at the University of Pennsylvania. However, this study he had to drop out after the death of his father. In 1799, he joined the Army as a First Lieutenant. In 1804 he moved to St. Louis in the Louisiana Territory. This area had previously been bought only in the year by the so-called Louisiana Purchase by President Thomas Jefferson from France and annexed as a territory of the United States.

After his arrival in his new home was McNair sheriff in St. Louis County. In 1814 he became a U.S. Marshal in the now newly formed Missouri Territory. At the same time he was head of the Land Administration Authority ( Land Office ) in St. Louis and a member of the militia of the territory. In the years 1808 and 1813, he was elected to the City Council of St. Louis. 1820 McNair was a member of the Constituent Assembly of Missouri.

Governor of Missouri

On August 28, 1820 Alexander McNair was elected the first governor of the new State of Missouri. With 72 % of the votes of the known and explorer William Clark suggested. McNair began his four -year term on 18 September 1820. At this time, but was still the old Missouri Territory, which is why McNair is performed in many statistics as well as the last territorial governor. The accession to the Union was politically controversial because of the issue of slavery. Only by the report prepared by Senator Henry Clay Missouri Compromise of 1820, the country's accession to the Union was made possible and completed in 1821. His main task as governor of the new state was to build a new administration. During his tenure, the transfer of the capital, it was decided to Jefferson City, which was then but not completed until 1826. In addition, at that time the first stagecoach lines in Missouri were established.

Further CV

After the expiration of his term of office on November 15, 1824 McNair was the Federal Government Commissioner for Indian affairs. In this capacity, he represented the U.S. government against the trunk of the Osage. Alexander McNair died in March 1826 of a flu infection. He was married to Susanne de Marquerite Reilhe, with whom he had ten children.