Background
Nixon, Lewis was born on April 7, 1861 in Leesburg, Virginia, United States. Son of Joel Lewis and Mary Jane (Turner) Nixon.
Nixon, Lewis was born on April 7, 1861 in Leesburg, Virginia, United States. Son of Joel Lewis and Mary Jane (Turner) Nixon.
Early education Leesburg. Graduated from the United States Naval Academy, 1882, at head of class, and sent to Royal Naval College, Greenwich, England, by Navy Department.
1 son, Stanhope Wood. Married second, Mary Doran Martin, June 28, 1938. Transferred to construction corps of navy, 1884.
In 1890 designed battleships Oregon, Indiana and Massachusetts, and then resigned from Navy to become superintending constructor of Cramp Shipyard, Philadelphia.
Resigned, 1895, and started Crescent Shipyard, Elizabeth, New Jersey, on own account, where he built 100 vessels in 6 years, among others the submarine torpedo-boat Holland and seven other submarines, the monitor Florida, torpedo-boat O’Brien and cruiser Chattanooga. Organized Standard Motor Construction Company.
Proprietor Lewis Nixon’s Shipyard. Started, 1895, and president until 1904, International Smokeless Powder Company.
President Nixon Nitration Works, Raritan River Sand Company Appointed by Mayor Van Wyck, president East River Bridge Commn, 1898.
Trustee and president Webb Institute of Naval Architecture. Democrat; succeeded Richard Croker as leader of Tammany Hall, November 1901-May 1902. Chairman finance committee Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, 1902.
Member of New York State Commission to Saint Louis Exposition Commissioner public works Borough of Richmond, 1914-1915. Member of the board of visitors to the United States Naval Academy, 1902, by appointment of President Roosevelt. Received in special audiences by the King of England, Popes Pius X and XI, Emperor Nicholas of Russia, King of Belgians, Premier Mussolini and presidents of Argentine, Chile, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
Delaware Democratic National conversations, 1900, 04, 08, 12, 20, 24, 32.
Married Sally Lewis Wood, January 29, 1891 (died 1937). Married second, Mary Doran Martin, June 28, 1938.