NIXON, Col. John.-Richard Nixon, a native of Wexford, Ireland, emigrated to this country in the first half of the eighteenth century.  His son John, the subject of this sketch, was born in Chester co., Pa., and having received a good education, became a merchant in Philadelphia.  He was one of the founders of the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, in 1771, and was an ardent patriot.  He was one of the Committee of Safety, often presided as chairman, and served on the Committee of Accounts.  As lieutenant-colonel he commanded the City Guard of Philadelphia from July 19, 1776, and was one of the navy board.  He commanded the Third Pennsylvania Battalion in the defense of the Delaware in 1776-77, and during his absence at the camp at Valley Forge, and the occupation of Philadelphia by the British, in the winter of 1777-78, his county-seat was burned by the enemy.  The Declaration of Independence was first read in public by him on the 8th of July, 1776, four days after its final adoption, from the platform of an observatory in the State-House yard, which had been erected in 1769 to observe the transit of Venus over the sun, to an assemblage of the people of that city and vicinity.  The people listened in silence and with solemn thought upon the momentous character of the act.   When the old Bank of Pennsylvania was established by subscription, July 17, 1780, to procure supplies of provisions for the then extremely destitute armies of the United States, he was chosen one of the first directors.  He was president of the Bank of North American, which grew out of and superseded the old Bank of Pennsylvania, from its organization in January, 1782, until his death, about Jan. 1, 1809.   Col. John Nixon was a gentleman of more than average ability, upright, patriotic, enthusiastic, and hospitable.  He was highly esteemed by his brother-officers and fellow-citizens generally.