Editing Thomas McKean (section)

==Early life and education==
[[File:Coat of Arms of Thomas McKean.svg|thumb|McKean's [[coat of arms]]]]
[[File:Charles Willson Peale - Thomas McKean - NPG.66.63 - National Portrait Gallery.jpg|thumb|Portrait by [[Charles Willson Peale]]]]
[[File:Mrs Thomas McKean (Sarah Armitage) and Her Daughter, Maria Louisa by, Charles Willson Peale (1741 - 1827).jpg|thumb|right|Sarah Armitage McKean with their daughter Maria Louisa ([[Charles Willson Peale]], 1787)]]

McKean was born on March 19, 1734, in [[New London Township, Pennsylvania|New London Township]] in the [[Province of Pennsylvania]] to William McKean and Letitia Finney. His father, William, immigrated to the colony of Pennsylvania in 1720, and was later listed as a tavern keeper. 

When his mother, Letitia, died in the fall of 1742, it took a strain on Thomas's, father, William. He quickly became an alcoholic, and because of that, was incapable of raising his family. Thomas's younger sister, went to go live with their aunt and uncle, while eight-year-old Thomas, and ten-year-old, Robert began their education under Reverend [[Francis Alison]] at his school in New Castle, Delaware{{sfn|Wilson|Fiske|1888|p=127}}

During his education, McKean took on a boyhood attitude, beyond his studies. By the time he reached his adolescence, he had learned how to ride a [[horse]] and shoot a [[gun]]. Though the school was simply for boys, McKean did interact with some females, which included Reverend Alison's wife, Hannah Armitage, and her toddler half-sister, Sarah Armitage, though McKean gave her little attention, preferring to be with his friends, [[Charles Thomson]] and [[George Read (American politician, born 1733)|George Read]]. After a decade studying at Dr. Alison's academy, McKean's brother, Robert, left for [[London]] to study [[medicine]] This was the first time the two were separated. 

In the year 1750, McKean finally finished his studies with Dr. Alison, and shortly thereafter moved in with his uncle, John Finney, who was a wealthy [[lawyer]] at the time. During this, McKean studied with his cousin, David Finney, and after four years, in 1754, he was finally admitted to the [[Bar (law)]]. 

At some point, McKean met Mary Borden, the daughter of [[Colonel]] Joseph Borden of [[New Jersey]]. They would marry on July 21, 1763 in Mary's hometown of [[Bordentown]]. Together, they had six children, two boys, and four girls, one of whom died in childhood. Mary Borden would die on March 12, 1773, in Delaware of an unknown cause. 

Shortly after the death of Mary Borden, at some point, McKean reconnected with Sarah Armitage, who he'd marry on September 16, 1774, and would live at the northeast corner of Third and Pine streets in Philadelphia. Together they would have four children, one of whom married the Spanish diplomat, [[Carlos Martínez de Irujo, 1st Marquess of Casa Irujo|Carlos Martínez de Irujo]], who was appointed to his position in 1796.