Emily Nelson Ritchie McLean

Emily Nelson Ritchie McLean (January 28, 1859 – May 20, 1916) was an American civic leader who served as the 7th president general of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

McLean was born Emily Nelson Ritchie on January 28, 1859, at Prospect Hall, the home of her grandparents in Frederick, Maryland. She was the first of eighteen children born to John Ritchie, a lawyer and politician, and Betty Nelson Maulsby Ritchie, a civic leader.

Her paternal grandparents were Albert Ritchie, a physician, and Catharine Lackland Davis Ritchie, daughter of 2nd Lieutenant James Lackland of the Frederick County Militia. Her maternal grandparents were Colonel William P. Maulsby, son of Israel D. Maulsby, and Emily Nelson, daughter of Brigadier General Roger Nelson. She was a relative of Maryland Governor Albert Ritchie.

She first resided with her parents on the north side of W. Patrick Street in Frederick, east of Carroll Creek, where they were neighbors of Barbara Fritchie. The Ritchie family later moved a block north to 114 W. Church Street in the Court Square area of downtown Frederick, living in a large home built in 1821 by McLean's granduncle, John Nelson.

McLean was educated at Frederick Female Seminary, graduating in 1873, and continued to study history, languages, and mathematics as a post-graduate.

McLean joined the Daughters of the American Revolution shortly after the society was founded, and became a charter member of the New York City chapter. She later served as a regent of the New York City chapter.

She was an active commissioner from New York to the Cotton States and International Exposition in 1895, served as an honorary commissioner at the South Carolina Exposition, and gave a public address at the Tennessee Exposition.

In November 1899, she gave a speech about patriotism at the West End Woman's Republican Association.