New London Township
The Alumni of New London Academy
"In 1743, Reverend Francis Alison, a minister at the New London Presbyterian Church, opened the New London Academy, from which the University of Delaware would later be established. The New London Academy quickly became well known for its excellence in education and its alumni included prominent colonial, revolutionary, and early American-era politicians, historians, clergy, and educators."
- New London Area Historical Society
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Thomas McKean - Founding Father, Signer of the Declaration of Independence
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George Read - Founding Father, Signer of the Declaration of Independence
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James Smith - Founding Father, Signer of the Declaration of Independence
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Charles Thomson - Secretary of the Continental Congress
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John Ewing - Provost of the University of Pennsylvania
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Hugh Williamson - Founding Father of North Carolina
New London Academy would later move south in 1834 and still later become the University of Delaware.
Thomas McKean
Thomas McKean was born on March 19, 1734 in New London Township in Chester County, PA. His grandfather William McKean came to colonial Pennsylvania in 1725, and settled on a a 300-acre plantation in Chester County. Thomas was educated at the New London Academy under the direction of Rev. Francis Allison. After receiving basic education in PA, he was sent to Wilmington, Delaware to study law under his cousin David Finney. He excelled in his practice, and was appointed as a clerk to the prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas. Thomas moved up quickly and was appointed as a lawyer in the Court of Common Pleas, representing the “Lower Counties" of Delaware.
His home is gone, but the sign is still there.
