Philip W. McKinney

Philip Watkins McKinney
Portrait of Governor McKinney
41st Governor of Virginia
In office January 1, 1890 – January 1, 1894
Lieutenant	James Hoge Tyler
Preceded by	Fitzhugh Lee
Succeeded by	Charles Triplett O'Ferrall
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
In office 1858
Personal details
Born	March 17, 1832 Buckingham County, Virginia
Died	March 1, 1899 (aged 66) Farmville, Virginia
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Ann Fleming Christian; Annie Clay
Alma mater	Hampden–Sydney College, Washington College
Profession	Politician, lawyer, soldier

Philip Watkins McKinney (March 17, 1832 – March 1, 1899) was an Virginia lawyer, soldier and politician. McKinney served in the Virginia House of Delegates, was the Commonwealth attorney for Prince Edward County, and was elected as the 41st Governor of Virginia, serving from 1890 to 1894.

Born in New Store, in Buckingham County, Virginia, Philip McKinney was the son of Charles and Martha McKinney. His undergraduate education was at Hampden–Sydney College, where he graduated with honors in 1851. McKinney then studied law at Washington College under John White Brockenbrough. After graduating, he started the practice of law and was married twice, first to Ann Fleming Christian and then to Annie Clay, with each marriage producing one child.

In 1858, McKinney was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, representing Buckingham County. However, at the outbreak of the Civil War, he joined the Confederate army as an officer in Company K of the 4th Virginia Cavalry. He sustained a serious injury in 1863 at the Battle of Brandy Station, thus ending his fighting career.

After the war, McKinney started a law practice in Farmville, but soon returned to politics. He served multiple terms as the Commonwealth Attorney for Prince Edward County throughout the next twenty years. However, he also lost a number of electoral campaigns during that time, including for U.S. Congress, Virginia Attorney General and Governor.