Thomas McKean
after 1787
Charles Willson Peale captured Thomas McKean looking every bit the serious Founding Father, complete with a fashionable powdered wig and a backdrop of heavy legal tomes. McKean holds the unique distinction of being the last person to sign the Declaration of Independence, finally putting pen to paper in 1781! Peale, a painter who also founded one of America's first museums, was the go-to artist for revolutionary heroes. The books behind McKean aren't just props; they hint at his long career as a lawyer and chief justice, grounding this statesman in his scholarly roots.
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