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.
