Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 08.djvu/62

 NELSON

NELSON

he was appointed by President Grant a member of the joint liigli commission that met in V.'asii- ington, D.C., to arbitrate the Alabama claims, and while in attendance on that commission con- tracted a cold that forced him to resign his seat on tiie supreme bench. His name was before several Democratic national conventions as an available nominee for president. He received the degree of LL.D. from Geneva in 1837. from Middlebury in 1841, from Columbia in 1841 and from Hamilton in 1870. He died in Coopers- town. X.Y., Dec. 18. 1873.

NELSON, Samuel Kelsey, clergyman, was born near Jonesborough. Tenn., Oct. 9, 1787; son of H^?nry ami Anna (Kelsey) Nelson. He was graduated at Washington college, Tenn., in 1803, taugiit school in 'Kentucky for a sliort time and also studied law. He studied theology under Dr. Samuel Doak, president of Washington college, and was licensed to preach by the presbytery of Holston in 1807. He preached in South Caro- lina and Tennessee, 1807-'9, and was pastor of the cliurcli in Danville. Ky., 1809-27. He was one of tiie principal founders of Centre college at Danville. Ky., chartered in 1819, and of the Kentucky Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb. He went to Florida to found a like institution in 18'37. He was a charter trustee of Centre college, 1819-27, and received the degree D.D., probably from Washington college. He died in Tallahas- see. Fla.. May 7, 1827.

NELSON, Thomas, Jr., signer, was born in Yc.rktown. Va., Dec. 26, 1738; son of Judge William Nelson (1711-1772) (q.v.). He received his preliminary education at Nelson House, under the Rev. Mr. Yates; was placed in a preparatory school at Hackney, England, in 1752, and was graduated at Trinity college, Cam- bridge, returning to Virginia in 17G1, where, in 17G2, he was married to Lucy, daughter of Col. Philip and Mary (Randolph) Grimes of Middlesex county. He was a member of the Virginia house of burgesses in 1761, and in 1774, when that body was dissolved by Lord Dunmore. he was among the protestants against the action of tiie governor; urged the ap- pointment of deputies to a general congress, and was returned to the next house. He was a member of the convention that met at Williams- burg, Aug. 1. 1774,;in(l fli.it of March, 1775,

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where he proposed to meet British aggression with armed opposition, and was appointed colonel of the 2d Virginia regiment by the convention in July, 1775. On his election as a delegate to the Continental congress from Virginia in 1775, he resigned his commission as colonel and .served in congress, 1775-77, signing the Declaration of Independence of July 4, 1776. He was a member of the Virginia con.stitutional convention of May, 1776. He resigned his seat in congress in May, 1777, on account of temporary illness, and in August, 1777, was appointed commander of the Virginia state forces, and in response to an appeal from congress raised and equipped a troop of cavalrymen, accompanying them to Philadelphia. He expended a large sum of money in this patriotic purpose, but as the troop was not called into service he was never repaid for his outlay except by the act of Aug. 8, 1778, in which it was " resolved that the thanks of congress be given to the Honorable General Nelson and to the officers and gentlemen for their brave, generous and patriotic efforts in the cause of their country." He was returned to congress from Virginia in 1779, and .served for a few months, but another sudden illness forced him to resign. When the invasion of Virginia was threatened in May, 1779, he organized the militia and subse- quently at his own expense sent two regiments to the south, guaranteeing the payment of their arrears to secure their service. In June, 1780, when Virginia resolved to borrow $2,000,000 for the Continental treasury to provide for the main- tenance of the French fleet, he secured a large part of the amount by personal endorsement, which he was obliged to pay. He was elected governor of Virginia, June 12, 1781; commanded the Virginia militia in the siege of Yorktown; ordered the artillery to open upon his own house, which he supposed was the heailquarters of the British general; was present at the surrender of Cornwallis, and received the thanks of Wash- ington in general orders. He retired from the office of governor, Nov. 30, 1781, whereupon he was accused of mal-administration for assum- ing dictatorial powers during the perilous term of his administration. He was, however, exon- erated by the state legislature. He spent the re- mainder of his life in retirement and povert}', his fortune having been expended for his country, and no recompense was ever made by the govern- ment to his family. His grave at Yorktown, Va., was not marked, but his statue was placed in the group on the W^ashington monument at Rich- mond, Va. He died at " Offley ", Hanover county, Va., Jan. 4. 1789.

NELSON, Thomas Amos Rogers, representa- tive, was born in lloaiu* county. Tenn.. March 19, 1812; son of David and Phoebe (White)