Born near Owensville, Maryland, Hopkins moved to Anne Arundel County with his parents, who settled near Annapolis.

Hopkins enlisted in Company A, Second Regiment, Maryland Confederate Infantry, during the Civil War and served until he was severely wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Hopkins resumed mercantile pursuits in Lynchburg, Virginia, and died there on January 15, 1914.

1886: Hopkins was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 51.55% of the vote, defeating Democrat Samuel Griffin.

This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress