Hugh Nelson (Virginia politician)

Hugh Nelson (September 30, 1768 – March 18, 1836) was an American politician and U.S. representative from Virginia.

Hugh Nelson
6th United States Minister to Spain
In office December 4, 1823 – July 23, 1824
Appointed by	James Monroe
Preceded by	John Forsyth
Succeeded by	Alexander Hill Everett
Chair of the House Judiciary Committee
In office March 4, 1815 – March 3, 1819
Preceded by	Charles J. Ingersoll
Succeeded by	John Sergeant
In office 1822 – March 3, 1822
Preceded by	John Sergeant
Succeeded by	Daniel Webster
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia
In office March 4, 1811 – January 14, 1823
Preceded by	David S. Garland
Succeeded by	Alexander Smyth
Constituency	21st district (1811-1813) 22nd district (1813-1823)
13th Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates
In office 1807–1809
Preceded by	Peter Johnston Jr.
Succeeded by	James Barbour
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the Albemarle district
In office 1805 – 1809 Alongside Joel Yancey, Walter Leake, Peter Carr, Rice Garland
Preceded by	William Waller Hening
Succeeded by	Tucker Coles William D Meriwether
In office 1828 – 1829 Alongside John P Drummond, William F. Gordon
Preceded by	Albert Allmand Charles Cocke
Succeeded by	Thomas Walker Gilmer Rice W Wood
Member of the Virginia Senate from the Elizabeth City, Warwick and York district
In office 1786–1791
Preceded by	William Lee
Succeeded by	Richard Cary Jr
Personal details
Born	Hugh Nelson (1768-09-30)September 30, 1768 Yorktown, Virginia Colony, British America
Died	March 18, 1836(1836-03-18) (aged 67) Albemarle County, Virginia, U.S.
Resting place	Cismont, Virginia
Political party	Democratic-Republican
Spouse	Eliza Kinloch
Parent(s)	Thomas Nelson Jr. (father) Lucy Grymes (mother)
Education	College of William & Mary

Early and family life

Born in Yorktown in the Colony of Virginia, to the former Lucy Grymes (1743-1830) and her husband, the future General and Governor Thomas Nelson Jr.. This Nelson could trace his descent from the First Families of Virginia. His paternal grandfather William Nelson served in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly as well as operated a successful mercantile business and plantations. His maternal grandfather also served as a burgess. This young man graduated from the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1780, although his father suffered severe financial difficulties after the conflict (the final battle, the Siege of Yorktown, was over land that his great-grandfather had developed and many buildings and cultivated (or over-cultivated) were destroyed or lost value. Somewhat complicating matters, his uncle, Col. Hugh Nelson (1749-1799) also distinguished himself during the American Revolutionary War, then became a delegate representing Fauquier County.^[1][2]

Career

Following the American Revolutionary War, Nelson was elected to the Senate of Virginia 1786–1791, representing (pert time) a district including the former colonial capital, Williamsburg and James City and York Counties, including many plantations devastated in the war's last campaign, the Siege of Yorktown.

He moved westward to Albemarle County and voters there elected him as one of their representatives (part time) in the in the Virginia House of Delegates 1805-1809 and again in 1828–1829.^[3] He was Speaker of the latter house 1807–1809. Nelson also served as judge of the general court.

Nelson was a presidential elector in 1808.^[4]

Nelson was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Twelfth and to the five succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1811, until his resignation on January 14, 1823, having received an appointment in the diplomatic service. He served as chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary (Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Seventeenth Congresses). Nelson was appointed by President James Monroe as United States Minister to Spain on January 15, 1823, and served until November 23, 1824.

Death and legacy

Nelson died at his home, "Belvoir," Albemarle County, Virginia, March 18, 1836. He was interred in Belvoir Cemetery, Cismont, Virginia.