Collin McKinney

A Texas founding father who, at 70, helped draft and boldly sign the declaration that created a new republic.

1766–1861 (age 95)·Texan historical figure·Birthday: April 17

Photo: Stephen F. Austin / Henry Schenck Tanner · Public domain

Biography

Collin McKinney arrived in Texas in 1831, a seasoned man in his sixties with a past as a Kentucky surveyor and merchant. He brought not just his family but a firm, principled character shaped by his work as a lay preacher. When the Texas Revolution erupted, McKinney’s steady hand and respected judgment were called upon. He was elected to represent his region at the Convention of 1836, where he was appointed to the critical five-man committee tasked with writing the Texas Declaration of Independence. At seventy years old, he became the oldest signer of that historic document, a testament to his enduring commitment to the cause. After independence, he served multiple terms in the Congress of the Republic of Texas, helping to shape its early laws and land policies. McKinney lived to be ninety-five, a witness to Texas's journey from Mexican territory to republic to state, his long life mirroring the rugged establishment of the place he helped define.

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Collin's Life & Times

The world at every milestone

1766Born

1771Started school

1779Became a teenager

1782Could drive

1784Could vote

1787Turned 21

1796Turned 30

1806Turned 40

1816Turned 50

1826Turned 60

1836Turned 70

1846Turned 80

1861Died at 95

President: Abraham Lincoln

Key Achievements

Served as one of the five drafters of the Texas Declaration of Independence in 1836.
Was the oldest signatory of the Texas Declaration of Independence at age 70.
Represented his region as a delegate to the Convention of 1836 that declared Texas independence.
Served in the Congress of the Republic of Texas following independence.