in literary, library, and editorial work. For six years he was the Boston correspondent of the “American Bookseller,” and since 1876 he has been on the editorial staff of “Zion's Herald.” He has written “Waltham, Past and Present, and its Industries” (1879), and “Weston” in Samuel A. Drake's “History of Middlesex County, Mass.” (1880). Mr. Nelson has given special study to library economy, and since 1881 has had charge of the “Catalogue of the Astor Library (Continuation), Vol. I.-III. (1886-'7),” and is now (1888) at work on the fourth and last volume. He was one of the founders and is now (1888) secretary of the New York library club.
NELSON, Daniel Thurber, physician, b. in
Milford, Mass., 16 Sept., 1839. He was graduated
at Amherst in 1861, and at Harvard medical school
in 1865. Meanwhile, in 1861-'2, he was a medical
cadet at the Massachusetts general hospital, and in
1863-'5 acting assistant surgeon in the armies of
the James and of the Potomac. Dr. Nelson then
established himself in Chicago and engaged in
general practice, giving special attention to gyne-
cology. In 1866 he was elected professor of phys-
iology and histology at Chicago medical college,
which chair he then held until 1880, and in 1881
he was made adjunct professor of gynecology at
Rush medical college. He is also attending physi-
cian at Mercy hospital. Dr. Nelson has invented
an improved trivalve speculum and other surgical
instruments. His publications have been restricted
to contributions to the medical journals.
NELSON, Henry Addison, clergyman, b. in
Amherst, Mass., 31 Oct., 1820. He was graduated
at Hamilton college in 1840, and was pastor of the
1st Presbyterian church at Auburn from 1846 till
1856, pastor in St. Louis, Mo., in 1856-68, and
professor of theology in Lane seminary in 1868-'74.
Since the last date he has been pastor of the First
church, Geneva, N. Y. He was moderator of the
general assembly of the Presbyterian church at
Rochester in 1867. He has published '• Seeing
Jesus " (Philadelphia, 1869) and " Sin and Salva-
tion " (New York, 1881).
NELSON, Hugh, Canadian statesman, b. in
Larne, Ireland, 25 May, 1830 ; d. 3 March, 1893.
He was educated in his native place, and came to
British Columbia in June, 1858. He engaged in
mercantile business until 1866, when he became a
partner in a lumbering firm at Burraid inlet. He
represented New Westminster in the British Colum-
bia legislature from November, 1870, till its dissolu-
tion in 1871, when that province entered the con-
federation. He was elected to the Dominion par-
liament for his former constituency in November,
1871, and re-elected by acclamation in 1872. Mr.
Nelson was a member of the Canadian senate from
12 Dec, 1879, until 8 Feb., 1887, when he was ap-
pointed lieutenant-gOA'ernor of British Columbia.
He was a member of the Yale convention, and
among the first to advocate the union of British
Columbia with Canada. He received a diploma of
honor for services that he rendered in connection
with the International fisheries exhibition in Lon-
don, England, in 1883.
NELSON, John, patriot, b. in Massachusetts
about 1660 ; d. there, 4 Dec, 1721. He was a near
relative of Sir Thomas Temple and headed the party
that took Gov. Andros prisoner in 1689. Hutchin-
son says that he was not allowed any share in the
subsequent government, on account of his being an
Episcopalian. When on a trading-voyage to Nova
Scotia he was taken by the French, and impris-
oned in Quebec. While there he wrote a letter
dated 26 Aug., 1692, to the court of Massachusetts,
which gave particular information of the designs
of the French, in consequence of which he was sent
to France, where he remained in prison two years.
When he had found means to inform Sir Purbeck
Temple of his condition, a demand was soon made
for his release or exchange. The immediate effect
of this was his transfer to the Bastile ; but he was
finally discharged, and returned to his family after
an absence of ten or eleven years.
NELSON, Roger, soldier, b. in Fredericktown,
Md., in 1735 ; d. there, 7 June, 1815. He was a
brigadier-general of the Revolutionary army, and
was severely wounded at Camden, where he was
left for dead on the field. After the peace he
studied law, was admitted to the bar in Frederick-
town, Md., and attained to eminence. He was
elected to congress in 1804, served till 1810, and
from the latter date till his death was associate
judge of the 5th judicial district of Maryland. —
His son, John, lawyer, b. in Fredericktown, Md.,
1 June, 1791 ; d. in Baltimore, Md., 8 Jan., 1860,
was graduated at William and Mary in 1811, ad-
mitted to the bar in 1813, and began practice in
his native town. He was elected to congress as a
Democrat in 1820, served in 1821-3, was U. S.
minister to Naples in 1831-'2, and in 1843-'5 was
attorney-general of the United States.
NELSON. Samuel, jurist, b. in Hebron, Wash-
ington CO., N. Y., 10 Nov., 1792 ; d. in Coopers-
town, N. Y., 13 Dec, 1873. He was of Scotch-Irish
lineage : his ancestor emigrated to this country in
1760, settling in Sa-
lem, N. Y. Samuel
was graduated at
Middleburyinl813,
studied law in Sa-
lem under Chief-
Justice Savage, and
in 1817 was admit-
ted to the bar of
Madison. N. Y. In
trying his first suit
in the court of com-
mon pleas he de-
tected an error in
practice on the part
of his opponent,
procured a stay of
proceedings, and
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ultimately gained his cause. This success gave him reputation and clients. His first appearance in politics was in 1820, when he was a presidential elector. He was a delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1822, in which he advocated the excision of the property qualification of voters, was circuit judge in 1823-'31, at the latter date became associate justice of the supreme court of New York, and in 1837 was elevated to the chief justiceship, presiding for eight years. He was a member of the State constitutional convention in 1844 which made the office of judge elective, and in 1845 was appointed by President Tyler to succeed Judge Smith Thompson on the supreme bench of the United States. In this court his decisions commanded the respect of bar and bench. In the famous Dred Scott case he concurred with the decision of Chief-Justice Taney, urging that if congress possessed power under the constitution to abolish slavery, it must necessarily possess the like power to establish it. During the civil war his conservatism as well as his life-long political affinities led him to regret what he considered the encroachments of the military on the civil power, but his relations with the administration were harmonious, and his loyalty was unquestioned. In 1871