He was the son of Dr. George Buchanan (1763-1808) and Letitia McKean Buchanan (1789-1845).
Daily National Republican
Tuesday, March 21, 1871
District of Columbia
Obituary
Today we chronicle the death, at Charlestown, Massachusetts, of Paymaster McKean Buchanan, United States Navy, aged seventy-four years. He was a native of Maryland, being a son of the late Dr. George Buchanan, of Baltimore and grandson of ex-Governor Thomas McKean of Pennsylvania, one of the signers of the Declaration on Independence. He entered the navy in 1826 and during the thirty-five years following of active service passed nearly sixteen years of it at sea, the last being upon the frigate Congress in 1861 when that vessel was sunk by the Confederate ram Merrimac. A few months later in the same year he was retired, since which time he has filled several posts of duty on receiving ships and naval stations. He leaves a widow, son and daughter, the latter the wife of Dr. George S. Fife, of this city.
McKean Genealogies From The Early Settlement Of McKeans Or McKeens In America To The Present Times, 1902 by Cornelius McKean, Perry, Iowa, The Kenyon Printing Co., Des Moines, Iowa, 1902.
Pay Director McKean Buchanan, United States Navy, born in Baltimore, July 27, 1798; but removed to Philadelphia, with his father's family in 1806 and two years after was left an orphan. McKean entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1813, in the class of 1817, where he remained about two years. He was nineteen years of age when Governor McKean died, naming him one of his residuary legatees. After leaving college he was for a time in mercantile life, in the counting house of Asoph Stone Esq., in Philadelphia. He then became the warrant clerk in the Navy Department at Washington, for three years, 1823-1826, while waiting for his commission as a purser in the navy, which he received from President Adams, August 21, 1826; the title being changed to paymaster June 22, 1860. He was immediately ordered to take passage in the frigate Brandywine to join the schooner Dolphin in the Pacific and was subsequently transferred to the sloop of war Vincennes and in her made a cruise to the South Pacific Islands and round the world, the first American man-of-war that had done so. He returned to the United States in June 1880. His next cruise was in the sloop of war Falmouth. In January 1839, he was again ordered to the Pacific squadron in the noted frigate Constitution, flagship of Commodore Claxton. His brother Franklin was also an officer of this ship. The Constitution returned to Norfolk in November 1841. During the Mexican War, Mr. Buchanan was again in the Pacific on his fourth cruise, a very singular circumstance. At this time, he was attached to the sloop of war Dale, June 1846 to August 1849. While on the cruise this vessel had four captains. She sailed from New York under Mr. Buchanan’s cousin, Commodore McKean, who was invalided and sent home from Panama. During the interim three others, at different times had command. At Guaymas Mr. Buchanan was made collector of customs in order to obtain the payment of money exacted by the United States from Mexico. Paymaster Buchanan's last cruise was in the frigate Congress, September 1861, to March 8, 1862 during the late war, blockading James River at Newport News and participated in the sanguinary engagement of March 8, 1862, with the Confederate squadron led by the iron-clad Virginia, (formerly the United States steam frigate Merrimac,) commanded by his own brother, Commodore, afterwards Admiral Franklin Buchanan. In this battle, familiar to all, Paymaster Buchanan commanded the berth deck division of the Congress.
The Virginia, in the beginning of the action, passed the Congress, receiving a broadside from that vessel and sank the Cumberland with her prow. The Congress, to avoid a like fate, ran herself aground and the Virginia, being therefore obliged to use her guns, took up a raking position astern, where the Congress could bring to bear but two guns. These being soon disabled, one in the unequal contest, one dismounted and the muzzle of the other shot off, the ship having been set on fire several times by hot shot, with her captain and one-fourth of her crew killed, after an action of three hours, it was decided to surrender. The other vessels of the squadron at Hampton Roads were also engaged in the action, but the Congress and Cumberland bore the brunt of the battle. Paymaster Buchanan was married July 1, 1834, to Frances Selina Roberdeau. youngest daughter of the late Colonel Isaac Roberdeau, United States Army. A short time before his death, Congress reorganized the staff corps of the navy, under act of March 3, 1871, whereby Paymaster Buchanan received the title of Pay Director, with the rank of commodore, assimilated to that of brigadier general in the army. His services may be divided into sea service, 16 years, no months; shore duty, 16 years, 6 months; on leave, 12 years, 1 month and during this long official life he has made seven cruises, sailed in nine vessels, served at eight shore stations, acted as judge advocate in several courts martial while in the Pacific 1847-1849, made four cruises to the Pacific, passing once round the Cape of Good Hope and seven times round Cape Horn and has taken part in two wars. He was beloved and respected by all who knew him, prompt and accurate in the discharge of his duties and in accounting for the millions that have passed through his hands during nearly half a century.
Pay Director Buchanan died at his residence in Charlestown, Massachusetts, March 18, 1871, of a slow decline from the shock his system sustained during the late unhappy war. He is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery.
His widow removed to Washington, D.C, in the fall of 1872, where she now resides. Her father, Isaac Roberdeau, a French Huguenot who fled from France in 1685, took refuge on the island of St. Christopher, West Indies and married Mary Cunyngham, daughter of Robert Cunyngham of Cayon, on that island, scion of a noble family and descendant of Alexander I, Earl of Glencairn, ennobled by King James III. of Scotland in 1488, whose family dates back in an unbroken line to the year 1057. Mary Roberdeau came to Philadelphia, after her husband's death, with her three children, of whom her only son Daniel Roberdeau became a prominent advocate of American independence; a brigadier general of the Pennsylvania troops, member of the Continental Congress 1777-1779 and signer of the Articles of Confederation. His son, Colonel Isaac Roberdeau, became a lieutenant-colonel of topographical engineers of the United States Army and chief of the bureau, which he organized in 1818. Colonel Roberdeau married Susan Blair, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blair and granddaughter of Dr. William Shippen the elder, of Philadelphia, member of the Continental Congress, 1778-1780.
Children of Pay Director and Mrs. Buchanan are:
Roberdeau, born November 22, 1839.
Laetitia McKean, born December 24, 1842, Brooklyn (Mrs. Fife).
Daily National Republican
Tuesday, March 21, 1871
District of Columbia
Obituary
Today we chronicle the death, at Charlestown, Massachusetts, of Paymaster McKean Buchanan, United States Navy, aged seventy-four years. He was a native of Maryland, being a son of the late Dr. George Buchanan, of Baltimore and grandson of ex-Governor Thomas McKean of Pennsylvania, one of the signers of the Declaration on Independence. He entered the navy in 1826 and during the thirty-five years following of active service passed nearly sixteen years of it at sea, the last being upon the frigate Congress in 1861 when that vessel was sunk by the Confederate ram Merrimac. A few months later in the same year he was retired, since which time he has filled several posts of duty on receiving ships and naval stations. He leaves a widow, son and daughter, the latter the wife of Dr. George S. Fife, of this city.
McKean Genealogies From The Early Settlement Of McKeans Or McKeens In America To The Present Times, 1902 by Cornelius McKean, Perry, Iowa, The Kenyon Printing Co., Des Moines, Iowa, 1902.
Pay Director McKean Buchanan, United States Navy, born in Baltimore, July 27, 1798; but removed to Philadelphia, with his father's family in 1806 and two years after was left an orphan. McKean entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1813, in the class of 1817, where he remained about two years. He was nineteen years of age when Governor McKean died, naming him one of his residuary legatees. After leaving college he was for a time in mercantile life, in the counting house of Asoph Stone Esq., in Philadelphia. He then became the warrant clerk in the Navy Department at Washington, for three years, 1823-1826, while waiting for his commission as a purser in the navy, which he received from President Adams, August 21, 1826; the title being changed to paymaster June 22, 1860. He was immediately ordered to take passage in the frigate Brandywine to join the schooner Dolphin in the Pacific and was subsequently transferred to the sloop of war Vincennes and in her made a cruise to the South Pacific Islands and round the world, the first American man-of-war that had done so. He returned to the United States in June 1880. His next cruise was in the sloop of war Falmouth. In January 1839, he was again ordered to the Pacific squadron in the noted frigate Constitution, flagship of Commodore Claxton. His brother Franklin was also an officer of this ship. The Constitution returned to Norfolk in November 1841. During the Mexican War, Mr. Buchanan was again in the Pacific on his fourth cruise, a very singular circumstance. At this time, he was attached to the sloop of war Dale, June 1846 to August 1849. While on the cruise this vessel had four captains. She sailed from New York under Mr. Buchanan’s cousin, Commodore McKean, who was invalided and sent home from Panama. During the interim three others, at different times had command. At Guaymas Mr. Buchanan was made collector of customs in order to obtain the payment of money exacted by the United States from Mexico. Paymaster Buchanan's last cruise was in the frigate Congress, September 1861, to March 8, 1862 during the late war, blockading James River at Newport News and participated in the sanguinary engagement of March 8, 1862, with the Confederate squadron led by the iron-clad Virginia, (formerly the United States steam frigate Merrimac,) commanded by his own brother, Commodore, afterwards Admiral Franklin Buchanan. In this battle, familiar to all, Paymaster Buchanan commanded the berth deck division of the Congress.
The Virginia, in the beginning of the action, passed the Congress, receiving a broadside from that vessel and sank the Cumberland with her prow. The Congress, to avoid a like fate, ran herself aground and the Virginia, being therefore obliged to use her guns, took up a raking position astern, where the Congress could bring to bear but two guns. These being soon disabled, one in the unequal contest, one dismounted and the muzzle of the other shot off, the ship having been set on fire several times by hot shot, with her captain and one-fourth of her crew killed, after an action of three hours, it was decided to surrender. The other vessels of the squadron at Hampton Roads were also engaged in the action, but the Congress and Cumberland bore the brunt of the battle. Paymaster Buchanan was married July 1, 1834, to Frances Selina Roberdeau. youngest daughter of the late Colonel Isaac Roberdeau, United States Army. A short time before his death, Congress reorganized the staff corps of the navy, under act of March 3, 1871, whereby Paymaster Buchanan received the title of Pay Director, with the rank of commodore, assimilated to that of brigadier general in the army. His services may be divided into sea service, 16 years, no months; shore duty, 16 years, 6 months; on leave, 12 years, 1 month and during this long official life he has made seven cruises, sailed in nine vessels, served at eight shore stations, acted as judge advocate in several courts martial while in the Pacific 1847-1849, made four cruises to the Pacific, passing once round the Cape of Good Hope and seven times round Cape Horn and has taken part in two wars. He was beloved and respected by all who knew him, prompt and accurate in the discharge of his duties and in accounting for the millions that have passed through his hands during nearly half a century.
Pay Director Buchanan died at his residence in Charlestown, Massachusetts, March 18, 1871, of a slow decline from the shock his system sustained during the late unhappy war. He is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery.
His widow removed to Washington, D.C, in the fall of 1872, where she now resides. Her father, Isaac Roberdeau, a French Huguenot who fled from France in 1685, took refuge on the island of St. Christopher, West Indies and married Mary Cunyngham, daughter of Robert Cunyngham of Cayon, on that island, scion of a noble family and descendant of Alexander I, Earl of Glencairn, ennobled by King James III. of Scotland in 1488, whose family dates back in an unbroken line to the year 1057. Mary Roberdeau came to Philadelphia, after her husband's death, with her three children, of whom her only son Daniel Roberdeau became a prominent advocate of American independence; a brigadier general of the Pennsylvania troops, member of the Continental Congress 1777-1779 and signer of the Articles of Confederation. His son, Colonel Isaac Roberdeau, became a lieutenant-colonel of topographical engineers of the United States Army and chief of the bureau, which he organized in 1818. Colonel Roberdeau married Susan Blair, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blair and granddaughter of Dr. William Shippen the elder, of Philadelphia, member of the Continental Congress, 1778-1780.
Children of Pay Director and Mrs. Buchanan are:
Roberdeau, born November 22, 1839.
Laetitia McKean, born December 24, 1842, Brooklyn (Mrs. Fife).
He was the son of Dr. George Buchanan (1763-1808) and Letitia McKean Buchanan (1789-1845).
Daily National Republican
Tuesday, March 21, 1871
District of Columbia
Obituary
Today we chronicle the death, at Charlestown, Massachusetts, of Paymaster McKean Buchanan, United States Navy, aged seventy-four years. He was a native of Maryland, being a son of the late Dr. George Buchanan, of Baltimore and grandson of ex-Governor Thomas McKean of Pennsylvania, one of the signers of the Declaration on Independence. He entered the navy in 1826 and during the thirty-five years following of active service passed nearly sixteen years of it at sea, the last being upon the frigate Congress in 1861 when that vessel was sunk by the Confederate ram Merrimac. A few months later in the same year he was retired, since which time he has filled several posts of duty on receiving ships and naval stations. He leaves a widow, son and daughter, the latter the wife of Dr. George S. Fife, of this city.
McKean Genealogies From The Early Settlement Of McKeans Or McKeens In America To The Present Times, 1902 by Cornelius McKean, Perry, Iowa, The Kenyon Printing Co., Des Moines, Iowa, 1902.
Pay Director McKean Buchanan, United States Navy, born in Baltimore, July 27, 1798; but removed to Philadelphia, with his father's family in 1806 and two years after was left an orphan. McKean entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1813, in the class of 1817, where he remained about two years. He was nineteen years of age when Governor McKean died, naming him one of his residuary legatees. After leaving college he was for a time in mercantile life, in the counting house of Asoph Stone Esq., in Philadelphia. He then became the warrant clerk in the Navy Department at Washington, for three years, 1823-1826, while waiting for his commission as a purser in the navy, which he received from President Adams, August 21, 1826; the title being changed to paymaster June 22, 1860. He was immediately ordered to take passage in the frigate Brandywine to join the schooner Dolphin in the Pacific and was subsequently transferred to the sloop of war Vincennes and in her made a cruise to the South Pacific Islands and round the world, the first American man-of-war that had done so. He returned to the United States in June 1880. His next cruise was in the sloop of war Falmouth. In January 1839, he was again ordered to the Pacific squadron in the noted frigate Constitution, flagship of Commodore Claxton. His brother Franklin was also an officer of this ship. The Constitution returned to Norfolk in November 1841. During the Mexican War, Mr. Buchanan was again in the Pacific on his fourth cruise, a very singular circumstance. At this time, he was attached to the sloop of war Dale, June 1846 to August 1849. While on the cruise this vessel had four captains. She sailed from New York under Mr. Buchanan’s cousin, Commodore McKean, who was invalided and sent home from Panama. During the interim three others, at different times had command. At Guaymas Mr. Buchanan was made collector of customs in order to obtain the payment of money exacted by the United States from Mexico. Paymaster Buchanan's last cruise was in the frigate Congress, September 1861, to March 8, 1862 during the late war, blockading James River at Newport News and participated in the sanguinary engagement of March 8, 1862, with the Confederate squadron led by the iron-clad Virginia, (formerly the United States steam frigate Merrimac,) commanded by his own brother, Commodore, afterwards Admiral Franklin Buchanan. In this battle, familiar to all, Paymaster Buchanan commanded the berth deck division of the Congress.
The Virginia, in the beginning of the action, passed the Congress, receiving a broadside from that vessel and sank the Cumberland with her prow. The Congress, to avoid a like fate, ran herself aground and the Virginia, being therefore obliged to use her guns, took up a raking position astern, where the Congress could bring to bear but two guns. These being soon disabled, one in the unequal contest, one dismounted and the muzzle of the other shot off, the ship having been set on fire several times by hot shot, with her captain and one-fourth of her crew killed, after an action of three hours, it was decided to surrender. The other vessels of the squadron at Hampton Roads were also engaged in the action, but the Congress and Cumberland bore the brunt of the battle. Paymaster Buchanan was married July 1, 1834, to Frances Selina Roberdeau. youngest daughter of the late Colonel Isaac Roberdeau, United States Army. A short time before his death, Congress reorganized the staff corps of the navy, under act of March 3, 1871, whereby Paymaster Buchanan received the title of Pay Director, with the rank of commodore, assimilated to that of brigadier general in the army. His services may be divided into sea service, 16 years, no months; shore duty, 16 years, 6 months; on leave, 12 years, 1 month and during this long official life he has made seven cruises, sailed in nine vessels, served at eight shore stations, acted as judge advocate in several courts martial while in the Pacific 1847-1849, made four cruises to the Pacific, passing once round the Cape of Good Hope and seven times round Cape Horn and has taken part in two wars. He was beloved and respected by all who knew him, prompt and accurate in the discharge of his duties and in accounting for the millions that have passed through his hands during nearly half a century.
Pay Director Buchanan died at his residence in Charlestown, Massachusetts, March 18, 1871, of a slow decline from the shock his system sustained during the late unhappy war. He is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery.
His widow removed to Washington, D.C, in the fall of 1872, where she now resides. Her father, Isaac Roberdeau, a French Huguenot who fled from France in 1685, took refuge on the island of St. Christopher, West Indies and married Mary Cunyngham, daughter of Robert Cunyngham of Cayon, on that island, scion of a noble family and descendant of Alexander I, Earl of Glencairn, ennobled by King James III. of Scotland in 1488, whose family dates back in an unbroken line to the year 1057. Mary Roberdeau came to Philadelphia, after her husband's death, with her three children, of whom her only son Daniel Roberdeau became a prominent advocate of American independence; a brigadier general of the Pennsylvania troops, member of the Continental Congress 1777-1779 and signer of the Articles of Confederation. His son, Colonel Isaac Roberdeau, became a lieutenant-colonel of topographical engineers of the United States Army and chief of the bureau, which he organized in 1818. Colonel Roberdeau married Susan Blair, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blair and granddaughter of Dr. William Shippen the elder, of Philadelphia, member of the Continental Congress, 1778-1780.
Children of Pay Director and Mrs. Buchanan are:
Roberdeau, born November 22, 1839.
Laetitia McKean, born December 24, 1842, Brooklyn (Mrs. Fife).
Daily National Republican
Tuesday, March 21, 1871
District of Columbia
Obituary
Today we chronicle the death, at Charlestown, Massachusetts, of Paymaster McKean Buchanan, United States Navy, aged seventy-four years. He was a native of Maryland, being a son of the late Dr. George Buchanan, of Baltimore and grandson of ex-Governor Thomas McKean of Pennsylvania, one of the signers of the Declaration on Independence. He entered the navy in 1826 and during the thirty-five years following of active service passed nearly sixteen years of it at sea, the last being upon the frigate Congress in 1861 when that vessel was sunk by the Confederate ram Merrimac. A few months later in the same year he was retired, since which time he has filled several posts of duty on receiving ships and naval stations. He leaves a widow, son and daughter, the latter the wife of Dr. George S. Fife, of this city.
McKean Genealogies From The Early Settlement Of McKeans Or McKeens In America To The Present Times, 1902 by Cornelius McKean, Perry, Iowa, The Kenyon Printing Co., Des Moines, Iowa, 1902.
Pay Director McKean Buchanan, United States Navy, born in Baltimore, July 27, 1798; but removed to Philadelphia, with his father's family in 1806 and two years after was left an orphan. McKean entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1813, in the class of 1817, where he remained about two years. He was nineteen years of age when Governor McKean died, naming him one of his residuary legatees. After leaving college he was for a time in mercantile life, in the counting house of Asoph Stone Esq., in Philadelphia. He then became the warrant clerk in the Navy Department at Washington, for three years, 1823-1826, while waiting for his commission as a purser in the navy, which he received from President Adams, August 21, 1826; the title being changed to paymaster June 22, 1860. He was immediately ordered to take passage in the frigate Brandywine to join the schooner Dolphin in the Pacific and was subsequently transferred to the sloop of war Vincennes and in her made a cruise to the South Pacific Islands and round the world, the first American man-of-war that had done so. He returned to the United States in June 1880. His next cruise was in the sloop of war Falmouth. In January 1839, he was again ordered to the Pacific squadron in the noted frigate Constitution, flagship of Commodore Claxton. His brother Franklin was also an officer of this ship. The Constitution returned to Norfolk in November 1841. During the Mexican War, Mr. Buchanan was again in the Pacific on his fourth cruise, a very singular circumstance. At this time, he was attached to the sloop of war Dale, June 1846 to August 1849. While on the cruise this vessel had four captains. She sailed from New York under Mr. Buchanan’s cousin, Commodore McKean, who was invalided and sent home from Panama. During the interim three others, at different times had command. At Guaymas Mr. Buchanan was made collector of customs in order to obtain the payment of money exacted by the United States from Mexico. Paymaster Buchanan's last cruise was in the frigate Congress, September 1861, to March 8, 1862 during the late war, blockading James River at Newport News and participated in the sanguinary engagement of March 8, 1862, with the Confederate squadron led by the iron-clad Virginia, (formerly the United States steam frigate Merrimac,) commanded by his own brother, Commodore, afterwards Admiral Franklin Buchanan. In this battle, familiar to all, Paymaster Buchanan commanded the berth deck division of the Congress.
The Virginia, in the beginning of the action, passed the Congress, receiving a broadside from that vessel and sank the Cumberland with her prow. The Congress, to avoid a like fate, ran herself aground and the Virginia, being therefore obliged to use her guns, took up a raking position astern, where the Congress could bring to bear but two guns. These being soon disabled, one in the unequal contest, one dismounted and the muzzle of the other shot off, the ship having been set on fire several times by hot shot, with her captain and one-fourth of her crew killed, after an action of three hours, it was decided to surrender. The other vessels of the squadron at Hampton Roads were also engaged in the action, but the Congress and Cumberland bore the brunt of the battle. Paymaster Buchanan was married July 1, 1834, to Frances Selina Roberdeau. youngest daughter of the late Colonel Isaac Roberdeau, United States Army. A short time before his death, Congress reorganized the staff corps of the navy, under act of March 3, 1871, whereby Paymaster Buchanan received the title of Pay Director, with the rank of commodore, assimilated to that of brigadier general in the army. His services may be divided into sea service, 16 years, no months; shore duty, 16 years, 6 months; on leave, 12 years, 1 month and during this long official life he has made seven cruises, sailed in nine vessels, served at eight shore stations, acted as judge advocate in several courts martial while in the Pacific 1847-1849, made four cruises to the Pacific, passing once round the Cape of Good Hope and seven times round Cape Horn and has taken part in two wars. He was beloved and respected by all who knew him, prompt and accurate in the discharge of his duties and in accounting for the millions that have passed through his hands during nearly half a century.
Pay Director Buchanan died at his residence in Charlestown, Massachusetts, March 18, 1871, of a slow decline from the shock his system sustained during the late unhappy war. He is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery.
His widow removed to Washington, D.C, in the fall of 1872, where she now resides. Her father, Isaac Roberdeau, a French Huguenot who fled from France in 1685, took refuge on the island of St. Christopher, West Indies and married Mary Cunyngham, daughter of Robert Cunyngham of Cayon, on that island, scion of a noble family and descendant of Alexander I, Earl of Glencairn, ennobled by King James III. of Scotland in 1488, whose family dates back in an unbroken line to the year 1057. Mary Roberdeau came to Philadelphia, after her husband's death, with her three children, of whom her only son Daniel Roberdeau became a prominent advocate of American independence; a brigadier general of the Pennsylvania troops, member of the Continental Congress 1777-1779 and signer of the Articles of Confederation. His son, Colonel Isaac Roberdeau, became a lieutenant-colonel of topographical engineers of the United States Army and chief of the bureau, which he organized in 1818. Colonel Roberdeau married Susan Blair, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blair and granddaughter of Dr. William Shippen the elder, of Philadelphia, member of the Continental Congress, 1778-1780.
Children of Pay Director and Mrs. Buchanan are:
Roberdeau, born November 22, 1839.
Laetitia McKean, born December 24, 1842, Brooklyn (Mrs. Fife).
Family Members
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