Profile Text
official U.S. Senate portrait of Mitch McConnell c. 2011
Birth Name: Addison Mitchell McConnell, Jr.
Place of Birth: Sheffield, Alabama, U.S.
Date of Birth: February 20, 1942
Ethnicity: English, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish
Mitch McConnell is an American politician. A Republican, he has served as a U.S. Senator from Kentucky, since January 3, 1985, as Senate Majority Leader, from January 3, 2015 to January 20, 2021, and as Senate Minority Leader, from January 3, 2007 to January 3, 2015, and again, from January 20, 2021. He was previously also Senate Majority Whip, from January 3, 2003 to January 3, 2007, among other duties.
Mitch is the son of Julia Odene (Shockley) and Addison Mitchell McConnell. He is married to businessperson Elaine Chao, who has served as U.S. Secretary of Labor, from January 29, 2001 to January 20, 2009, and U.S. Secretary of Transportation, from January 31, 2017 to January 11, 2021, among other duties; and who is of Chinese descent. Mitch has three children with his former wife Sherrill Redmon.
Mitch’s paternal grandfather was Robert Hayes McConnell (the son of The Rev. Samuel Porter McConnell and Othella/Offillia C. Daly/Daley/Daily). Robert was born in Alabama, and ran the McConnell Funeral Home with his brother Add. The Rev. Samuel was a Calvinist preacher, and was the son of James McConnell and Sarah Ellison. Othella was the daughter of Richard Henry/C. Daly/Daley and Amanda Adeline Belue.
Mitch’s paternal grandmother was Florence Agnes Farrington (the daughter of Josiah D. Farrington and Mary Ann Moore). Florence was born in Alabama. Josiah was the son of Joseph Farrington and Angeline McGuire. Mary Ann was the daughter of W. H. Moore and Catherine McKleroy.
Mitch’s maternal grandfather was Green Babe Shockley (the son of Green Berry Shockley and Catherine Elizabeth Abbett). Mitch’s grandfather Green was born in Georgia. Mitch’s great-grandfather Green was the son of John Shockley and Sarilla Smith.
Mitch’s maternal grandmother was Lala Viola Nolen (the daughter of Andrew Jackson “Andy” Nolen and Julia Ann Godfrey). Lala was born in Alabama.
Sources: Information about Mitch’s slave-owning ancestors – https://www.nbcnews.com
Genealogies of Mitch McConnell – http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com https://www.ourfamtree.org http://www.geni.com
Genealogies of Mitch’s parents – https://www.findagrave.com