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

[3] 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.

[1] 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".

During this period, Hanson took great interest in public affairs, and wrote a number of valuable pamphlets on both State and Federal questions, which attracted much notice.

[1] Hanson's reputation as a Judge rests principally upon his services upon the General Court Bench, because, although he was for nearly 18 years Chancellor of the State, there is no report of his decisions.

[1] As an illustration of the regard in which the opinions of Chancellor Hanson were held I may refer to the case of Damarest vs. Wynkoop.

Chancellor Kent, in the case first mentioned, adopted the view of Hanson instead of that of the Court of Appeals, and in doing so used this language: "* * * This is clear judicial sanction to the doctrine of Lord Talbot, and, therefore, as well upon authority as upon the reason and policy of the rule I conclude that the Court of Appeals of Maryland was in this instance mistaken; and with respect to the learned Chancellor's opinion, notwithstanding the reversal, I trust I may without offense be permitted to say 'Scaevolve assentior.'

" This case and Chancellor Hanson's opinion were afterwards adopted by the Court of Appeals in Hertie vs. Schwartze, 3 Md., 383, where its former decision was overruled.

"[1] On October 3, 1789, Hanson was appointed to succeed John Rogers, deceased, Chancellor of the State of Maryland.

Harrison was strongly urged by Alexander Hamilton to accept the appointment, and finally declined the Chancellorship for this reason, but died on his way to take his seat.

[1] While serving as Chancellor, Hanson was a member of the Convention called to consider the proposed Constitution of the United States.