Member Biography

Biography

Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Maclay (Democratic-Republican10) Luzerne, Mifflin and Northumberland Counties 1798-1801 (Democratic-Republican8) Northumberland County 1801-1803

Early Life: 

Samuel Maclay born June 17, 1741, Lurgan Township, Maclay's Mill (now Franklin County), Province of Pennsylvania, British Colonial America; son of Charles and Eleanor Maclay; completed preparatory studies; engaged, agricultural pursuits, surveying; married, Elizabeth Harris Plunkett, 1773, children,  William Plunkett Maclay, Charles Maclay, John Maclay, Samuel Maclay, David Maclay, Judge Robert Plunkett Maclay, Eleanor Maclay, Hester Maclay, Jane Maclay Henderson; Lieutenant Colonel, Continental Army, Revolutionary War, 1775; elected, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1787-1791; associate judge, Franklin County 1792-1795; elected, United States Congress, 1795-1797; elected, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1797; elected, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1798-1803, Speaker of the Pennsylvania State Senate, 1801-1802; unsuccessful campaign, United States House of Representatives, 1800; elected, United States Senate, 1803- resigned 1809; unsuccessful campaigns, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1809, 1810; retired; died, September 5, 1811, Buffalo Township, Union County, Pennsylvania; interment, cenotaph, Driesbach Church Cemetery, Buffalo Township, Union County, Pennsylvania.  

Early Career:

He and his brother, William Maclay were appointed commissioners to survey the tracts on the headwaters of the Schuylkill, Susquehanna and Allegheny Rivers that were awarded to the officers of the First Battalion in Bouquet's expedition. Appointed, Lieutenant Colonel, First Battalion, Northumberland County Militia, September 12, 1775.  

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives 1787-1791. 

Associate judge, Franklin County 1792-1795. 

Elected, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1797. 

Elected, Democratic-Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 10th district, Luzerne, Mifflin and Northumberland Counties, 1798-1801.

Elected, Democratic-Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 8th district, Northumberland County, 1801-1803, Speaker of the Pennsylvania State Senate, 1801-1802.  

Unsuccessful campaigns, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1809, 1810. 

Continued Government Service/National Politics:

Elected, United States Congress, Fourth Congress 1795-1797. 

Unsuccessful campaign, United States House of Representatives, District 6 Pennsylvania, 1800.

Elected, Democratic Republican, United States Senate 1803- resigned January 4, 1809. 

Pennsylvania State House of Representatives Biography:

Not currently available. 

Legacy: 

Wife, Elizabeth Harris Plunkett, granddaughter, John Harris Sr., founder and namesake of city of Harrisburg, the state capital of Pennsylvania.

Brother, William Maclay member of Pennsylvania State Legislature, 1780; Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1796. 

Son, William Plunkett Maclay, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1800; United States Representative, Pennsylvania 9th District, 1815-1821; delegate, Pennsylvania State Constitutional Convention, 1837. 

Son, Judge Robert Plunket Maclay, Pennsylvania State Senate, 8th District, 1839-1842. Appointed, Governor William Freame Johnston, Associate Judge, Clarion County, 1844-1853. 

Robert Plunket Maclay  - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov)

Cited: 

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

A New Nation Votes (tufts.edu)

Samuel Maclay (1741-1811) - Find a Grave Memorial