Alfred O. P. Nicholson

Alfred Osborn Pope Nicholson (August 31, 1808 – March 23, 1876), a Tennessee Democratic politician and lawyer, was twice a United States Senator from that state.

Alfred Osborn Pope Nicholson
United States Senator
from Tennessee
In office
December 25, 1840 – February 7, 1842
Preceded byFelix Grundy
Succeeded byEphraim H. Foster
In office
March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861
Preceded byJohn Bell
Succeeded byJoseph S. Fowler
Member of the Tennessee Senate
In office
1843–1845
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
In office
1833–1839
Personal details
Born(1808-08-31)August 31, 1808
Franklin, Tennessee, US
DiedMarch 23, 1876(1876-03-23) (aged 67)
Columbia, Tennessee, US
Political partyDemocratic
ProfessionPolitician, Lawyer, Editor, Bank president

Biography

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 U.S. 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, and 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.

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 1858 Nicholson was again elected to the United States Senate from Tennessee 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 secession from the Union, which occurred the next month. Later in 1861, he was formally expelled from the Senate, as were all Senators from the states joining the Confederacy with the sole exception of his fellow Tennessean Andrew Johnson, a loyal Unionist. After the 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
  • List of United States Senators expelled or censured

References
  • United States Congress. "Alfred O. P. Nicholson (id: N000096)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2009-03-23
  • "Alfred O. P. Nicholson". Find a Grave. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
U.S. Senate
Preceded by
Felix Grundy		 U.S. senator (Class 1) from Tennessee
December 25, 1840 – February 7, 1842
Served alongside: Alexander O. Anderson		 Succeeded by
Ephraim H. Foster
Preceded by
John Bell		 U.S. senator (Class 2) from Tennessee
March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861
Served alongside: Andrew Johnson		 Succeeded by
Joseph S. Fowler(1)
Notes and references
1. Because of Tennessee's secession, the Senate seat was vacant for five years before Fowler succeeded Nicholson.
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