Thomas Nelson (Oregon judge)

For other people with the same name, see Thomas Nelson (disambiguation).

Thomas Nelson (January 23, 1819 – July 25, 1907) was an American attorney and judge. He was appointed as the 2nd Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court serving from 1850 to 1853. A native of the U.S. state of New York, he lived in Oregon only during his term as chief justice.

Thomas Nelson
2nd Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
In office 1850–1853
Preceded by	William P. Bryant
Succeeded by	George Henry Williams
3rd Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
In office 1850–1853
Appointed by	Millard Fillmore
Preceded by	William P. Bryant
Succeeded by	George Henry Williams
Personal details
Born	(1819-01-23)January 23, 1819 Peekskill, New York
Died	July 25, 1907(1907-07-25) (aged 88) New York City, New York

Early life

Nelson was born January 23, 1819, in Peekskill, New York.^[1] There he passed the bar and received his license to practice law in 1840.^[1]

Legal career

In 1850 U.S. President Millard Fillmore appointed Nelson to the territorial supreme court of Oregon to replace William P. Bryant.^[1] Nelson arrived at Oregon City in April 1850.^[1] He served until 1853 when his term ended.^[2] During this same time he served as chief justice of the court, and then left Oregon in August 1853 to return to New York.^[1] There he practiced law until he died in New York on July 25, 1907, at the age of 88.^[1][3]

External links

• Mclagan, Elizabeth (2022). A Peculiar Paradise: A History of Blacks in Oregon, 1788-1940 (2nd ed.). Corvallis, OR: Oregon State University Press in Cooperation with Oregon Black Pioneers. ISBN 9780870712210. OCLC 1341845615. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
• Stealing the Capital