Alexander Contee Hanson (February 27, 1786 – April 23, 1819) was an American lawyer, publisher, and statesman. He represented the third district of Maryland in the U.S. House, and the state of Maryland in the U.S. Senate.
Alexander Contee Hanson was born in Annapolis, Maryland, on February 27, 1786, the second son of Alexander Contee Hanson, Sr. (1749-1806) and Rebecca Howard (ca. 1760–1806). His older brother, Charles W. Hanson, later became a judge in Baltimore.[1] His younger sister, Mary Jane Hanson (1791–1815), was married to Thomas Peabody Grosvenor (1778–1817), a U.S. Representative from New York.[2] He attended local private schools and graduated from St. John's College in Annapolis in 1802.[3]
Hanson launched the Federal Republican and Commercial Gazette in Baltimore in 1808 and merged it with another publication the following year. The Federal Republican was known as one of the nation's most extreme Federalist newspapers.[6] On June 22, 1812, four days after the beginning of the War of 1812, a mob that was irritated by his articles denouncing the administration destroyed his office. On July 28, he reissued the paper from another building, where he was joined by a group of armed allies. When that building was besieged by a mob, Hanson and his group fired, killing two. On the morning of July 29, Hanson and his group surrendered to Mayor Edward Johnson, who had come to personally defuse the situation,[7] and were escorted to jail. That evening, the mob stormed the jail, and Hanson was beaten and left for dead. James M. Lingan, a military officer who came to Hanson's defense, died as a result of the violence.[8] Hanson also received help from Revolutionary War Hero and father of Robert E. Lee, Henry Lee III, who received grave injuries. Another man John Thompson recounts being tarred and feathered by the mob and stated that the rioters brought a field gun to besiege Hanson's house, although the arrival of the mayor and other city officials stopped it from being fired.[9] Hanson moved the paper to Georgetown, D.C., where he published it unmolested. Hanson later moved to Elkridge, Maryland.
United States Congress
In 1812, Hanson was elected as a Federalist representing the third district to the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1813, until his resignation in 1816.[10] Hanson was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1815.[11] He was an unsuccessful candidate in 1816 for election to the Maryland House of Delegates, but was elected as a Federalist to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Robert Goodloe Harper.[12] He served as senator from December 20, 1816, until his own death on his estate, "Belmont", near Elkridge, Maryland.[13]
On June 25, 1805, he was married to Priscilla Dorsey.[14] They had many children, but only one lived to have heirs:[15]
Charles Grosvenor Hanson (1815/6–1880), who married Annie Maria Worthington (1821–1873), daughter of John Tolley Hood Worthington (1788-1849), on April 16, 1840.[16]
He was interred in the family burial ground at his estate, Belmont.[2]
Descendants
His grandchildren included Alexander Contee Hanson (1840–1857), Mary Worthington Hanson (1842–1863), John Worthington Hanson (1844–1916), Priscilla Hanson (1846–1925), Charles Edward Hanson (b. 1848), Murray Hanson (b. 1851), Samuel Contee Hanson (1854–1889), Grosvenor Hanson (1856–1916), Annie Maria "Nannie" Hanson (1858–1943), and Florence Contee Hanson (1860–1935).[16]
^Cutler, Josh S. (Feb 18, 2019). Mobtown Massacre: Alexander Hanson and the Baltimore Newspaper War of 1812. History Press. p. 188. ISBN978-1467142274.
^ abGrosvenor, Thomas Peabody (1817). A sketch of the life, last sickness, and death of Mrs. Mary Jane Grosvenor (2nd ed.). Baltimore: Edward J. Coale and Maxwell. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
^ abEisenberg, Gerson G. Marylanders Who Served the Nation: A Biographical Dictionary of Federal Officials from Maryland. Annapolis: The Maryland State Archives, 1992.
^Archives of Maryland page for Alexander Contee Magruder.
^Secretary of State of Maryland (1915). Maryland Manual 1914–1915: A Compendium of Legal, Historical and Statistical Information relating to the State of Maryland. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: The Advertiser-Republican.
^Cutler, Josh S. (2018). "When the Press Really Was Under Attack: Alexander Hanson and the 1812 'Mobtown' Massacre". New England Journal of History. 75 (Spring).
^Cassell, F. A. (1975). The Great Baltimore Riot of 1812. Maryland Historical Society, 70(3). doi:msa_sc_5881_1_279
^Peters, James Edward (2000). Arlington National Cemetery, Shrine to America's Heroes. Woodbine House. ISBN1-890627-14-3.
^Scharf, J. Thomas (1874). The chronicles of Baltimore : being a complete history of "Baltimore town" and Baltimore city from the earliest period to the present time. Tuenbull Brothers. pp. 315–337. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
^Marine, William M. The British Invasion of Maryland 1812-1815. Baltimore: Society of the War of 1812 in Maryland, 1913. Excerpts, pp. 7-10.
^Scharf, J. Thomas. Chronicles of Baltimore. Baltimore: Turnbull Brothers, 1874. Excerpts, pp. 312-338.
^McClarey, Donald R.; Zummo, Paul (16 July 2012). "Alexander Contee Hanson, Jr". Almost Chosen People. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
^"Alexander Contee Hanson, MSA SC 3520-2206". msa.maryland.gov. Maryland State Archives. August 28, 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
^Hammond, John Martin (1914). Colonial mansions of Maryland and Delaware. Philadelphia | London: J.B. Lippincott company. pp. 168–183. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
^ abHanson, George A. (June 1, 2009). Old Kent: The Eastern Shore of Maryland. Genealogical Publishing Com. ISBN9780806346328. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
Paul A. Gilje, "The Baltimore Riots of 1812 and the Breakdown of the Anglo-American Mob Tradition," Journal of Social History 13 (Summer 1980): 547–564.
PBS Documentary on The War of 1812 2011-10-02 at the Wayback Machine
alexander, contee, hanson, february, 1786, april, 1819, american, lawyer, publisher, statesman, represented, third, district, maryland, house, state, maryland, senate, united, states, senatorfrom, marylandin, office, december, 1816, april, 1819preceded, byrobe. Alexander Contee Hanson February 27 1786 April 23 1819 was an American lawyer publisher and statesman He represented the third district of Maryland in the U S House and the state of Maryland in the U S Senate Alexander Contee HansonUnited States Senatorfrom MarylandIn office December 20 1816 April 23 1819Preceded byRobert G HarperSucceeded byWilliam PinkneyMember of the U S House of Representatives from Maryland s 3rd districtIn office March 4 1813 1816Preceded byPhilip B KeySucceeded byGeorge PeterMember of the Maryland House of DelegatesIn office 1811 1815Personal detailsBorn 1786 02 27 February 27 1786Annapolis MarylandDiedApril 23 1819 1819 04 23 aged 33 Elkridge MarylandPolitical partyFederalistSpousePriscilla DorseyChildrenCharles Grosvenor HansonParent s Alexander Contee Hanson Sr Rebecca HowardRelativesThomas P Grosvenor brother in law Alma materSt John s College Contents 1 Early life 1 1 Family 2 Career 2 1 Federal Republican 2 2 United States Congress 3 Personal life 3 1 Descendants 4 See also 5 References 6 External links 6 1 Baltimore Riot of 1812Early life EditAlexander Contee Hanson was born in Annapolis Maryland on February 27 1786 the second son of Alexander Contee Hanson Sr 1749 1806 and Rebecca Howard ca 1760 1806 His older brother Charles W Hanson later became a judge in Baltimore 1 His younger sister Mary Jane Hanson 1791 1815 was married to Thomas Peabody Grosvenor 1778 1817 a U S Representative from New York 2 He attended local private schools and graduated from St John s College in Annapolis in 1802 3 Family Edit He was the grandson of John Hanson 1721 1783 a delegate to the Continental Congress who signed the Articles of Confederation and served as the 9th President of the Continental Congress and Jane Contee 1726 1812 herself the granddaughter of Thomas Brooke Jr 1660 1730 Through his paternal grandmother s brother Thomas Contee 1729 1793 he was related to Benjamin Contee 1755 1815 and Thomas Contee Worthington 1782 1847 William Grafton Delaney Worthington 1785 1856 and Walter Brooke Cox Worthington 1795 1845 His cousin Rebecca Thomas 1777 1814 was married to another cousin Alexander Contee Magruder c 1779 1853 4 Career EditHe proceeded to study law was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Annapolis He was a delegate to the Maryland State Convention of 1788 to vote whether Maryland should ratify the proposed Constitution of the United States 5 From 1811 to 1815 he served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates 3 Federal Republican Edit See also 1812 Baltimore riots Hanson launched the Federal Republican and Commercial Gazette in Baltimore in 1808 and merged it with another publication the following year The Federal Republican was known as one of the nation s most extreme Federalist newspapers 6 On June 22 1812 four days after the beginning of the War of 1812 a mob that was irritated by his articles denouncing the administration destroyed his office On July 28 he reissued the paper from another building where he was joined by a group of armed allies When that building was besieged by a mob Hanson and his group fired killing two On the morning of July 29 Hanson and his group surrendered to Mayor Edward Johnson who had come to personally defuse the situation 7 and were escorted to jail That evening the mob stormed the jail and Hanson was beaten and left for dead James M Lingan a military officer who came to Hanson s defense died as a result of the violence 8 Hanson also received help from Revolutionary War Hero and father of Robert E Lee Henry Lee III who received grave injuries Another man John Thompson recounts being tarred and feathered by the mob and stated that the rioters brought a field gun to besiege Hanson s house although the arrival of the mayor and other city officials stopped it from being fired 9 Hanson moved the paper to Georgetown D C where he published it unmolested Hanson later moved to Elkridge Maryland United States Congress Edit In 1812 Hanson was elected as a Federalist representing the third district to the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Congresses serving from March 4 1813 until his resignation in 1816 10 Hanson was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1815 11 He was an unsuccessful candidate in 1816 for election to the Maryland House of Delegates but was elected as a Federalist to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Robert Goodloe Harper 12 He served as senator from December 20 1816 until his own death on his estate Belmont near Elkridge Maryland 13 Personal life Edit The family estate Belmont near Elkridge Maryland On June 25 1805 he was married to Priscilla Dorsey 14 They had many children but only one lived to have heirs 15 Charles Grosvenor Hanson 1815 6 1880 who married Annie Maria Worthington 1821 1873 daughter of John Tolley Hood Worthington 1788 1849 on April 16 1840 16 He was interred in the family burial ground at his estate Belmont 2 Descendants Edit His grandchildren included Alexander Contee Hanson 1840 1857 Mary Worthington Hanson 1842 1863 John Worthington Hanson 1844 1916 Priscilla Hanson 1846 1925 Charles Edward Hanson b 1848 Murray Hanson b 1851 Samuel Contee Hanson 1854 1889 Grosvenor Hanson 1856 1916 Annie Maria Nannie Hanson 1858 1943 and Florence Contee Hanson 1860 1935 16 See also EditList of United States Congress members who died in office 1790 1899 References Edit Cutler Josh S Feb 18 2019 Mobtown Massacre Alexander Hanson and the Baltimore Newspaper War of 1812 History Press p 188 ISBN 978 1467142274 a b Grosvenor Thomas Peabody 1817 A sketch of the life last sickness and death of Mrs Mary Jane Grosvenor 2nd ed Baltimore Edward J Coale and Maxwell Retrieved 16 February 2017 a b Eisenberg Gerson G Marylanders Who Served the Nation A Biographical Dictionary of Federal Officials from Maryland Annapolis The Maryland State Archives 1992 Archives of Maryland page for Alexander Contee Magruder Secretary of State of Maryland 1915 Maryland Manual 1914 1915 A Compendium of Legal Historical and Statistical Information relating to the State of Maryland Annapolis Maryland USA The Advertiser Republican Cutler Josh S 2018 When the Press Really Was Under Attack Alexander Hanson and the 1812 Mobtown Massacre New England Journal of History 75 Spring Cassell F A 1975 The Great Baltimore Riot of 1812 Maryland Historical Society 70 3 doi msa sc 5881 1 279 Peters James Edward 2000 Arlington National Cemetery Shrine to America s Heroes Woodbine House ISBN 1 890627 14 3 Scharf J Thomas 1874 The chronicles of Baltimore being a complete history of Baltimore town and Baltimore city from the earliest period to the present time Tuenbull Brothers pp 315 337 Retrieved 30 October 2018 Marine William M The British Invasion of Maryland 1812 1815 Baltimore Society of the War of 1812 in Maryland 1913 Excerpts pp 7 10 American Antiquarian Society Members Directory Scharf J Thomas Chronicles of Baltimore Baltimore Turnbull Brothers 1874 Excerpts pp 312 338 McClarey Donald R Zummo Paul 16 July 2012 Alexander Contee Hanson Jr Almost Chosen People Retrieved 16 February 2017 Alexander Contee Hanson MSA SC 3520 2206 msa maryland gov Maryland State Archives August 28 2012 Retrieved 16 February 2017 Hammond John Martin 1914 Colonial mansions of Maryland and Delaware Philadelphia London J B Lippincott company pp 168 183 Retrieved 16 February 2017 a b Hanson George A June 1 2009 Old Kent The Eastern Shore of Maryland Genealogical Publishing Com ISBN 9780806346328 Retrieved 16 February 2017 External links EditUnited States Congress Alexander Contee Hanson id H000176 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Paul A Gilje The Baltimore Riots of 1812 and the Breakdown of the Anglo American Mob Tradition Journal of Social History 13 Summer 1980 547 564 PBS Documentary on The War of 1812 Archived 2011 10 02 at the Wayback MachineU S House of RepresentativesPreceded byPhilip Barton Key Member of the U S House of Representatives from Maryland s 3rd congressional district1813 1816 Succeeded byGeorge PeterU S SenatePreceded byRobert G Harper U S senator Class 1 from Maryland1816 1819 Served alongside Robert H Goldsborough Edward Lloyd Succeeded byWilliam Pinkney Baltimore Riot of 1812 Edit contemporary account a summary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexander Contee Hanson amp oldid 1122144424, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
