Nicholas Hansen | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives | |
| In office 1823–1823 | |
| Preceded by | district established |
| Succeeded by | John Shaw |
| In office 1824–1826 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1781 |
| Died | 1872 (age 91) |
Nicholas Hansen was an American politician who served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives. [1] He served as a state representative representing Pike County in the 3rd Illinois General Assembly and the 4th Illinois General Assembly. [2]
Hansen was originally from Albany,New York where he graduated from Union College before moving to Illinois. [3] He served as a probate judge in Pike County from 1821 to 1822 and as a colonel of the Seventeenth Regiment Illinois Militia in 1821 and commissioned as brigadier-general in 1824. [3]
His election was contested by his opponent John Shaw but the committee on elections reported unanimously in his favor and he was seated. [3] At the time,a special committee was established to consider the holding of a Constitutional Convention to put the question of slavery before the people of the state. [3] The matter required a 2/3rd vote in the State House and Senate to proceed. [3] The propenents of the resolution had the necessary votes in both the Senate and the House although when the vote was called,Hansen voted in the negative. [3] The following day,fellow representative Alexander Pope Field,after a long speech,moved to reconsider the vote declaring Shaw entitled to his seat. [3] A vote was held,Hansen was ousted,and his former opponent,John Shaw,was seated in the House as Hansen's replacement. [3]
Hansen ran again for the same seat in 1824 and was duly elected. [1]
After his stint in the state legislature,he again served as a probate judge in 1826. [3] In 1829,Hansen returned to New York where he lived until his death in 1872 at age 91. [3]