He attended the common schools, graduated from Washington College near Greeneville, Tennessee, and engaged in agricultural pursuits.
[2] McClellan served as captain of the Second Regiment, Second Brigade, Tennessee Mounted Volunteer Militia during the Seminole Wars, from 1836 to 1837.
[3] In 1837, McClellan, a Democrat, defeated incumbent Samuel Bunch, 3,228 votes to 2,741, in the election for the 2nd district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Realizing he had little chance of winning the nomination over Johnson, McClellan chose not to seek a fourth term.
[5] After leaving Congress, he resumed agricultural pursuits and died at his home, "White Top," in Sullivan County on May 3, 1866.