Michael Nicholas Nolan (May 4, 1833 – May 31, 1905) was an American businessman and Democratic politician who served one term as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1881 to 1883, and as mayor of Albany, New York, from 1878 to 1883. He was born in County Carlow, Ireland, on May 4, 1833. At the age of ten he immigrated to the United States with his family and settled in Albany, New York. Growing up in his adopted city, he attended the public schools of Albany, receiving the basic education that would support his later business and political career.
As a young man, Nolan studied law with a local attorney in Albany, intending to enter the legal profession. Before he could attain admission to the bar, however, he joined the westward movement associated with the California Gold Rush. He traveled to California, where he did not pursue mining but instead found employment in the developing urban infrastructure of San Francisco. There he worked on the city’s street railway system and advanced rapidly, soon becoming a manager. His experience in transportation management and urban services in San Francisco provided him with practical business skills and an understanding of municipal operations.
After several years in California, Nolan returned to Albany, where he established himself as a prominent businessman. He became a partner in the Beverwyck Brewery, also known as Quinn and Nolan, one of the notable brewing enterprises in the city. In addition to his brewing interests, he expanded his activities in the financial sector, serving as a director of the National Savings Bank of Albany. His growing stature in the community led to his appointment as fire commissioner of Albany, a position he held from 1869 to 1878. In that role he was involved in overseeing the city’s fire protection services during a period of urban growth and modernization.
Nolan’s prominence in business and local administration helped propel him into elective office. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected mayor of Albany and took office in May 1878. As mayor, he presided over the state capital during a time of continued urban development and political activity, serving until June 24, 1883, when he resigned. His tenure as mayor overlapped with his service in the federal legislature, reflecting his influence in both local and national affairs. After leaving Congress he continued his business activities, and served as mayor of Albany again from 1882 to 1883, maintaining a central role in the city’s civic life.
Nolan entered national politics when he was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-seventh Congress, representing New York’s Sixteenth Congressional District. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from March 4, 1881, to March 3, 1883. During this single term in Congress, he participated in the legislative process at a significant period in American history, representing the interests of his Albany-area constituents and contributing to the work of the Democratic Party in the House. His congressional service coincided with the post-Reconstruction era, when issues of economic development, federal patronage, and urban growth were prominent in national debate.
After the conclusion of his term in Congress in 1883, Nolan did not return to federal office but remained active in his business pursuits in Albany. He continued his involvement with the Beverwyck Brewery and maintained his position in the city’s financial and commercial circles. His combined experience as a businessman, local official, and former congressman made him a well-known figure in the civic affairs of the capital city for the remainder of his life.
Michael Nicholas Nolan died in Albany, New York, on May 31, 1905, at the age of 72 years and 27 days. He was interred at St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands, New York, a suburban community just north of Albany. His career reflected the trajectory of many nineteenth-century Irish immigrants who rose from modest beginnings to positions of influence in American business and politics, and he remains noted for his service as both mayor of Albany and a U.S. Representative from New York.
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