Death of Allan McLane

Mr. Allan McLane, a well known resident of this city and a member of the prominent Maryland family of that name, died suddenly and unexpectedly at his residence, 1500 Vermont Avenue, at an early hour yesterday morning. The announcement of his death was a severe shock to his friends in this city, where he had made his home for the past eleven years. About a fortnight ago, Mr. McLane was seized with an attack of what was thought to be grip. His illness was not considered serious, however, but it took an alarming turn at midnight Tuesday. His physician, Dr. Hagner , was hastily summoned and did what he could to stay the rapid approach of death, but the patient sank rapidly and died at 3:00. There were with him at the time of his death, besides his physician, only his wife and daughter, Mrs. John Cropper and his nephew, Allan McLane of Baltimore.

Mr. McLane was the son of Louis McLane, Secretary of the Treasury during the Jackson administration, one of the most prominent lawyers in the country, a member of Congress and minister to France, and for a brief period, England. One brother is the Honorable Robert M. McLane, ex Governor of Maryland and ex-minster to France.

Mr. McLane was sixty nine years of age. His early education was obtained at Princeton College, but he left that institution to enter the Naval Academy at Annapolis, from which he graduated. For some time he served as a naval officer, and his first connection with the Pacific Mail Line was when he was acting in that capacity. When the Pacific mail was first established, the vessels were placed in charge of the naval officers, and Mr. McLane was one of the several selected. He commanded several of the company's ships, and tendered his resignation with the Naval Department and devoted his time and energy to the interests of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company. He became President of the company in about 1860 and remained the head until 1870 when he retired.

In 1859 he married Miss Bache, a sister of the late Alexander Bache, superintendent of the coast survey. At the time, Mr. McLane was in command of the company's vessel, Fremont, and on that voyage to San Francisco that succeeded their marriage, Mrs. McLane became ill at sea and died. Subsequently, Mr McLane married Miss Knight, the daughter of Pacific Mail's resident agent at San Francisco. Upon her death several years later, he married her sister, the present Mrs. McLane. In 1880 they came to Washington and erected a handsome residence on Iowa Circle, where he has since resided.

Funeral services will be held at Mr. McLanes late residence at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning . The remains will be taken to Baltimore for interment at Greenmount Cemetery.

The Evening Star, Washington DC, December 17,1891, page 2

First Wife: Maria Bache

Second and Third Wives were sisters whose parents were Ebenezer Knight (1811- 1853) and Anzolette Hussey (1812-1895)

Second Wife: Ariadne Knight - Married 2/21/1856 Portsmouth NH

Third Wife: Abby Knight Married 10/4/1887 Portsmouth NH