Born on August 31, 1820, in
Fairton, New Jersey, Nixon attended the public schools, graduated from the College of New Jersey (now
Princeton University) in 1841 and received an
Artium Magister degree from the same institution in 1843. He
read law in 1844 and was admitted to the bar in 1845. He entered private practice in
Bridgeton, New Jersey from 1845 to 1859. He was a member of the
New Jersey General Assembly from 1848 to 1850, serving as Speaker in 1850. ==Congressional service==