Background
Nolan was born in County Carlow, Ireland.
Nolan was born in County Carlow, Ireland.
He attended the public schools in Albany.
And immigrated to the United States at the age of ten. In California, Nolan was employed on the street railway system of San Francisco and soon became manager. Nolan returned to Albany where he was a partner in a brewery, became director of the National Savings Bank of Albany, and served as fire commissioner of Albany from 1869 to 1878.
Elected as a Democrat, he was mayor of Albany from May 1878 to June 24, 1883, when he resigned.
Elected to the 47th United States Congress representing the Sixteenth District of New York, Nolan served from March 4, 1881 to March 3, 1883. After leaving Congress he continued his business activities, and served as Mayor of Albany again from 1882 to 1883.
Nolan died in Albany on May 31, 1905 (age 72 years, 27 days). He is interred at Saint Agnes Cemetery, Menands, New New York