John Kintzing Kane

John Kintzing Kane (May 16, 1795 – February 21, 1858) was an American lawyer who served as the 21st Attorney General of Pennsylvania from 1845 to 1846 and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 1846 to 1858. Education and career Born on May 16, 1795, in Albany, New York, Kane graduated from Yale University in 1814 and read law in 1817. He entered private practice in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1817 to 1824. He was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1824 to 1825. He was an attorney and board member of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal Company starting in 1825. That same year, he was elected to the American Philosophical Society and served as president of the organization. In 1828, he became active in national democratic party politics and supported Andrew Jackson. He wrote a pamphlet titled A Candid View of the Presidential Election supporting Jackson and is credited with writing many of his statements as President on national policy. He was city solicitor for Philadelphia from 1828 to 1830, and in 1832. Jackson nominated Kane as one of the three United States Commissioners to settle claims with France from 1832 to 1836. He resumed private practice in Philadelphia from 1836 to 1845. He led the Pennsylvania Democrats versus the Whigs in the Buckshot War contesting the 1838 state elections which became so contentious the state militia was called up to protect the legislature. He was the 21st Attorney General of Pennsylvania from 1845 to 1846. As Attorney General, he led the prosecution of those arrested during anti-Catholic riots in Philadelphia during the 1840s.