Alfred Osborn Pope Nicholson (August 31, 1808 – March 23, 1876), was a lawyer, newspaper editor, banker, and politician from Tennessee. A Democrat, he was twice a US Senator from that state.
Nicholson was born near Franklin, Tennessee, in Williamson County. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating in 1827. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1831, opening a law practice in Columbia, Tennessee. He edited the Western Mercury, a paper then published in Columbia, from 1832 to 1835. He also served in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1833 to 1839. In 1840 he was appointed, on an interim basis, to succeed to the US Senate seat vacated by the death of Senator Felix Grundy. He served in that office from December 25, 1840, to February 7, 1842. From 1843 to 1845 he served in the Tennessee State Senate, moving to Nashville during this period. He edited the Nashville Union from 1844 to 1846. From 1846 to 1847 he served as a director, and then as president, of the Bank of Tennessee. He owned slaves.[1]
In 1859, Nicholson was elected to the US Senate by the Tennessee General Assembly. He served from March 4, 1859, to March 3, 1861, when he withdrew from participation in the Senate in anticipation of Tennessee declaring secession, which occurred the next month. Later in 1861, he was formally expelled from the Senate, as were all other Senators from Confederate states, with the sole exception of his fellow Tennessean Andrew Johnson, a loyal Unionist. After the Civil War, Nicholson served as chief justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court from 1870 until his death.
He died on March 23, 1876, in Columbia, Tennessee. He was buried in Columbia's Rose Hill Cemetery.
alfred, nicholson, alfred, osborn, pope, nicholson, august, 1808, march, 1876, lawyer, newspaper, editor, banker, politician, from, tennessee, democrat, twice, senator, from, that, state, alfred, nicholsonunited, states, senatorfrom, tennesseein, office, march. Alfred Osborn Pope Nicholson August 31 1808 March 23 1876 was a lawyer newspaper editor banker and politician from Tennessee A Democrat he was twice a US Senator from that state Alfred NicholsonUnited States Senatorfrom TennesseeIn office March 4 1859 March 3 1861Preceded byJohn BellSucceeded byJoseph S Fowler 1866 In office December 25 1840 February 7 1842Appointed byJames K PolkPreceded byFelix GrundySucceeded byEphraim H FosterMember of the Tennessee SenateIn office 1843 1845Member of the Tennessee House of RepresentativesIn office 1833 1839Personal detailsBornAlfred Osborn Pope Nicholson 1808 08 31 August 31 1808Franklin Tennessee U S DiedMarch 23 1876 1876 03 23 aged 67 Columbia Tennessee U S Political partyDemocraticEducationUniversity of North Carolina Chapel Hill BA Biography editNicholson was born near Franklin Tennessee in Williamson County He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduating in 1827 He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1831 opening a law practice in Columbia Tennessee He edited the Western Mercury a paper then published in Columbia from 1832 to 1835 He also served in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1833 to 1839 In 1840 he was appointed on an interim basis to succeed to the US Senate seat vacated by the death of Senator Felix Grundy He served in that office from December 25 1840 to February 7 1842 From 1843 to 1845 he served in the Tennessee State Senate moving to Nashville during this period He edited the Nashville Union from 1844 to 1846 From 1846 to 1847 he served as a director and then as president of the Bank of Tennessee He owned slaves 1 In 1853 President Franklin Pierce wished to appoint him to the Cabinet but he declined to serve He edited the Washington Union from 1853 to 1856 and subsequently served as public printer to the United States House of Representatives In 1859 Nicholson was elected to the US Senate by the Tennessee General Assembly He served from March 4 1859 to March 3 1861 when he withdrew from participation in the Senate in anticipation of Tennessee declaring secession which occurred the next month Later in 1861 he was formally expelled from the Senate as were all other Senators from Confederate states with the sole exception of his fellow Tennessean Andrew Johnson a loyal Unionist After the Civil War Nicholson served as chief justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court from 1870 until his death He died on March 23 1876 in Columbia Tennessee He was buried in Columbia s Rose Hill Cemetery See also editList of United States senators expelled or censuredReferences edit Congress slaveowners The Washington Post 2022 01 19 retrieved 2022 07 08 United States Congress Alfred O P Nicholson id N000096 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved on 2009 03 23U S SenatePreceded byFelix Grundy U S Senator Class 1 from Tennessee1840 1842 Served alongside Alexander O Anderson Succeeded byEphraim H FosterPreceded byJohn Bell U S Senator Class 2 from Tennessee1859 1861 Served alongside Andrew Johnson VacantTitle next held byJoseph S Fowler1866 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alfred O P Nicholson amp oldid 1211464800, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
