Biography
Born in Pennsylvania, McKean was the grandson of Thomas McKean, the governor of that state.
William Wister McKean was appointed midshipman on 30 November 1814. He served in the Navy from the War of 1812 to the Civil War, when he rose to the rank of flag officer in command of the Gulf Blockading Squadron and later the East Gulf Blockading Squadron. McKean was relieved from active duty on 4 June 1862.
McKean died at Binghamton, New York., 22 April 1865.
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“Had Dr. Johnson written his own life, in conformity with the opinion which he has given, that every man’s life may be best written by himself; had he employed in the preservation of his own history, that clearness of narration and elegance of language in which he has embalmed so many eminent persons, the world would probably have had the most perfect example of biography that was ever exhibited.”
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