Allen McLane Public Symposium: October 25, 2014

The Allen McLane Public Symposium will bring the life and military career of this noted son of Delaware, Allen McLane, to the attention of the people of our state and beyond.  He has been called the “Unknown Hero of the Revolution,” “Delaware’s Daredevil” and “Washington’s Favorite Cavalryman.” 

McLane was a patriot, partisan leader, soldier, and spy for eight years during the Revolutionary War.   Subsequently, he was a government servant, Delaware’s first marshal, member of the Privy Council, member of the House of Assembly, and magistrate, and then for 32 years served as the Collector of the Port of Wilmington. 

The symposium’s impressive list of speakers includes: John Nagy, author of Invisible Ink; Glenn Williams, military historian; Chuck Fithian, retired HCA archaeologist; Edith McLane Edson, descendant of McLane and writer; Robert A. Selig, writer and noted Rochambeau Revolution Route advocate; and Michael Lloyd, long-time McLane researcher.  Also featured will be a presentation by the 1^st Delaware Regiment and a portrayal of Allen McLane by Tom Welch.  Delaware State University Professor Samuel Hoff will serve as the master of ceremonies.

Participants will receive a free copy of the booklet “Allen McLane –Patriot, Soldier, Spy, Port Collector,” which has been written by a team of scholars, researchers and historians, each of whom has a unique perspective on the McLane story.  Some of the same writers will be presenting at the symposium. 

The symposium will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2014, from 9:00am until 3:30pm at Wesley College’s Peninsula Room, in the du Pont College Center, 120 No. State Street in Dover, DE.  Parking is available in the lot at Fulton and Bradford Streets.

The symposium is free and open to the public. Luncheon is available for $10. Registration is at 8:30am.  Preregistration is available by calling Tom Welch at 302-632-1803 or by email at allenmclane@gmail.com.  

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Primary sponsors include the Caesar Rodney Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Wesley College History Department, the Delaware Historical Society, the Delaware State Society of the Cincinnati and the American Revolution Roundtable of Northern Delaware.

Co-sponsors include the Friends of the Delaware Public Archives, the Claymont Historical Society, the Friends of Old Dover, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, the Friends of Belmont Hall, the Duck Creek Historical Society, and the 1^st Delaware Regiment. Gifts have also been made by Ginger Trader, Troy Foxwell, Claudia Onkean, Tom Welch, the James Family, and Kim Burdick.