John McCain

official photo of John McCain

Birth Name: John Sidney McCain III

Date of Birth: August 29, 1936

Place of Birth: Coco Solo Naval Air Station, Panama Canal Zone

Date of Death: August 25, 2018

Place of Death: Cornville, Arizona, U.S.

Ethnicity: English, Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish/Irish, distant Welsh and Swiss-French

John McCain was an American politician. A Republican, he served as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona, from January 3, 1983 to January 3, 1987, and a U.S. Senator from Arizona, since January 3, 1987 to August 25, 2018, his death.

He was the Republican Party’s nominee for President of the United States in 2008. He was also a candidate for the Republican Party’s 2000 presidential nomination.

John was born at the Coco Solo Naval Air Station, Panama Canal Zone, to American parents. He was the son of Roberta (Wright) and John Sidney “Jack” McCain, Jr., a prominent admiral and submarine commander. His father was born in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa. His mother was born in Muskogee, Muskogee Co., Oklahoma. At the time of his birth, the Panama Canal was an unincorporated territory of the U.S., and John’s father was serving there. John’s paternal grandfather, John Sidney “Slew” McCain, Sr., was also a prominent admiral, and a pioneer of aircraft carrier operations. John’s ancestry was English, Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish/Irish, and distant Welsh and Swiss-French.

John was married to businessperson, philanthropist, and humanitarian Cindy McCain, until his death. Cindy is of half Swedish descent. John had three children with his former wife, model Carol Shepp; and four children, including columnist Meghan McCain, with Cindy. His brother is actor and newspaper reporter Joe McCain. Meghan is married to political commentator Ben Domenech.

John’s patrilineal line can be traced to his great-great-great-grandfather, Joseph McCain, who was born, c. 1784, in Scotland.

John’s paternal grandfather was John Sidney McCain, Sr. (the son of John Sidney McCain and Elizabeth Ann Young). John’s grandfather John was born in Teoc, Carroll, Mississippi. John’s great-grandfather John was the son of William Alexander McCain and Mary Louisa/Louise McAllister, who was born in Alabama. Elizabeth Ann was the daughter of Samuel Hart Young and Catharine/Catherine Weeden Small.

John’s paternal grandmother was Katherine/Catherine Davey/Davy Vaulx (the daughter of The Rev. James Junius Vaulx and Margaret Garside). Katherine was born in Fayetteville, Washington, Arkansas. The Rev. James was the son of James Vaulx and Eliza Geddy Fenner. Margaret was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England, the daughter of Samuel Garside and Mary Dickens.

John’s maternal grandfather was Archibald “Archie” Wright (the son of Franklin Alexander Wright and Nancy Adaline/Adeline Atkins). Archibald was born in Mississippi, and was an oil wildcatter. Franklin was born in Florence, Lauderdale, Alabama, the son of Archibald Wright and Mary Paterson/Patterson. Nancy was the daughter of Robert Taylor Atkins and Martha Anderson.

John’s maternal grandmother was Myrtle Mae Fletcher (the daughter of Azariah Dennis Fletcher and Martha Malinda/Melinda “Mattie” Kidwell). Myrtle was born in Texas. Azariah was the son of Azariah Denny Fletcher and Mary Moore. Martha was the daughter of William Kidwell and Sarah “Sally” Higgins. Sarah was born, c. 1815, in Kentucky.

A DNA test whose results were displayed on the show Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2016) stated that John’s genetic ancestry was:

*99.4% European
*0.5% Native American
*0.1% North African

An AncestryDNA test taken by John’s daughter Meghan whose results were displayed on the show The View (2018) stated that Meghan’s genetic ancestry is:

*62% England, Wales & Northwestern Europe
*34% Ireland & Scotland
*2% Norway
*1% Native American–Andean
*1% Senegal

Sources: Genealogies of John McCain – http://www.wargs.com
http://www.geni.com
http://famouskin.com
http://www.wikitree.com

Genealogy of John’s McCain (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.findagrave.com

Marriage record of John’s paternal great-great-grandparents, Samuel Garside and Mary Dickens – https://www.familysearch.org