Joseph Hopper Nicholson, MSA SC 3520-1893

Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Joseph Hopper Nicholson (1770-1817)
MSA SC 3520-1893

Biography:

Born May 15, 1770 in Chestertown, Kent County, Maryland. Son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Hopper) Nicholson, Jr. Brother-in-law of Francis Scott Key, author of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Studied law, admitted to the bar. Married Rebecca Lloyd, October 10, 1793; children Joseph Hopper (died young); Edward Lloyd; Elizabeth Hopper; Joseph Hopper, Jr.; James M. (died in infancy), and Mary H. Died March 4, 1817 in Baltimore City. Buried at "Wye House," near Easton, Talbot County.

Captain, 1st Artillery, August 1813; captain, Company of volunteer artillerists, August 1814; captain, 5th regiment, Baltimore, 1814. Lawyer. Commissioned to lay out the town of Centreville, Maryland, Queen Anne's County, 1794. Member of the House of Delegates from Queen Anne's County, 1796-98. Speaker pro tem, 1797. Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, 1799-1806 (resigned to accept appointment to Court of Appeals). Chief justice, 6th Judicial District, 1806-17. Judge, Maryland Court of Appeals, 1806-17. President, Commercial & Farmers Bank, Baltimore, 1810-1812. Affiliated with the Democratic-Republican party.

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