Alexander Contee Hanson
Who was Alexander Contee Hanson?
American politician (1786-1819)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Alexander Contee Hanson (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Alexander Contee Hanson was born on February 27, 1786, in Annapolis, Maryland, into a family with a long history of involvement in American public life. His grandfather was a well-known jurist and chancellor of Maryland, and this background influenced Hanson's ambitions from a young age. He went to St. John's College in Annapolis, where he developed a strong intellectual foundation and a talent for written argument that would be important in his career.
Hanson became a prominent Federalist voice of his time, founding and editing the Federal Republican newspaper in Baltimore around 1808. His editorials were highly critical of the Madison administration and its war policies, which put him in direct conflict with pro-war supporters in Baltimore. In June 1812, soon after war was declared against Britain, a mob destroyed the offices of the Federal Republican. Refusing to be silenced, Hanson restarted publication, leading to a more violent attack in July 1812. He and a group of associates, including General Henry Lee, were trapped in a house, arrested for their protection, and then attacked again by the mob while in jail. One man died, and several others, including Hanson, were badly beaten. This incident became a national scandal and brought widespread criticism of the Baltimore authorities.
The riots in Baltimore, rather than ending Hanson's political career, actually boosted it. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives from Maryland's third district, taking his seat in 1813. In Congress, he remained a strong opponent of the war and the Democratic-Republican majority's policies, gaining a reputation as a passionate and combative debater. He stuck to his Federalist principles and didn't shy away from criticizing what he saw as executive overreach and constitutional violations.
In 1816, Hanson became a United States Senator for Maryland. However, his time in the Senate was cut short by his worsening health, much of which was a result of injuries from the 1812 mob attack. He struggled to manage his duties as his condition declined in the late 1810s. Alexander Contee Hanson died on April 23, 1819, in Elkridge, Maryland, at the age of thirty-three, leaving behind a career defined by personal courage and steadfast political beliefs.
Before Fame
Born into one of Maryland's most notable families, Alexander Contee Hanson had education and social opportunities that were impressive even for the early American republic. His grandfather was a chancellor of Maryland and helped frame the state's constitution, giving the family a lot of prestige. Hanson attended St. John's College in Annapolis, where he honed the speaking and legal skills that would shape his public career.
After finishing his education, Hanson focused on law and journalism. He started the Federal Republican newspaper in Baltimore, putting him at the heart of the period's intense partisan struggles. The early 1800s saw a lot of ideological conflict between Federalists and Democratic-Republicans, and Hanson became a leading voice for Federalists in a state where holding that position took real personal bravery.
Key Achievements
- Founded and edited the Federal Republican, one of the most prominent Federalist newspapers of the early nineteenth century
- Elected to the United States House of Representatives from Maryland's third congressional district, serving from 1813
- Elected to the United States Senate representing Maryland in 1816
- Became a national symbol of press freedom after continuing publication of the Federal Republican despite violent mob attacks in 1812
- The town of Hanson, Massachusetts was named in his honor
Did You Know?
- 01.The town of Hanson, Massachusetts was named in his honor, an unusual distinction for a Maryland politician.
- 02.During the Baltimore riot of July 1812, Hanson and his associates were taken into protective custody but were then attacked by the mob inside the jail itself, with one defender, General James Lingan, killed during the assault.
- 03.General Henry Lee, known as 'Light-Horse Harry' Lee and the father of Robert E. Lee, was among the men defending Hanson's Baltimore house during the 1812 riot and was permanently disfigured in the attack.
- 04.Hanson was only twenty-six years old when the Baltimore riots occurred and twenty-seven when he was first elected to the United States House of Representatives.
- 05.His health never fully recovered from the injuries he received at the hands of the Baltimore mob in 1812, and those wounds are widely believed to have contributed directly to his death at age thirty-three.