John McNair (congressman)

American politician

John Alexander McNair (June 8, 1800 – August 12, 1861) was an American teacher and congressman representing Pennsylvania's fifth district for two terms from 1851 to 1855.

Biography

Born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, he taught school and worked as principal of Loller Academy in Hatboro, Pennsylvania in 1825.

Early career

He established a boys school in the village of Abington, Pennsylvania. He served as clerk of the courts of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania from 1845 to 1848 and moved to Norristown, Pennsylvania.

Congress

McNair was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-second and Thirty-third Congresses. He served as chairman of the United States House Committee on Manufactures during the Thirty-third Congress.

Retirement and death

McNair settled on a plantation in Prince William County, Virginia, near Gainesville.

He died at Evansport, Virginia, near Aquia Creek, in 1861.

Sources

United States Congress. "John McNair (id: M000581)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by John Freedley	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 5th congressional district March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1855	Succeeded by John Cadwalader