Alexander Contee Hanson, Sr.

Alexander Contee Hanson, Sr. (October 22, 1749 – January 16, 1806) was an attorney who served as Chancellor of Maryland from 1789 until his death.

Alexander Contee Hanson was born in Maryland on October 22, 1749. He was the son of John Hanson and Jane Contee. His father was a Revolutionary War financier and statesman, who was a signer of the Articles of Confederation and first President of the Congress created by those Articles. Alexander Hanson was educated at the College of Philadelphia and read law in Annapolis.

After his legal education, he planned to travel to England to be ordained for the ministry of the Protestant Episcopal Church, but his voyage ended in a shipwreck. He was rescued and taken to Philadelphia, where he became the Assistant Private Secretary to General George Washington. Hanson's cousin, and the future appointee to the Chancellorship, Colonel Robert Hanson Harrison was Washington's Chief Secretary.

In 1776, Hanson fell ill, and after two months service, had to leave General Washington's service. Hanson visited headquarters just after the battle of Brandywine, and was present when the two armies, just on the eve of battle, were separated by a violent rain. Still very ill, Hanson accompanied Washington to a farmer's house, where Washington offered him his bed.Alexander Hamilton lay down on the floor in the corner, and afterwards Colonel Hanson would good-humoredly remark that he "never saw a man look so like a cat".

On February 12, 1778, Hanson returned to Annapolis with Governor William Paca and Nicholas Thomas. Hanson was then appointed Judge of the General Court under the Constitution of 1776. In 1784, with Samuel Chase, he was appointed to digest Laws of Maryland from 1763. This work was done by himself and is known as "Hanson's Laws."

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