Hugh Nelson (politician, 1768)

Hugh Nelson

Hugh Nelson (born September 30, 1768 in Yorktown , Colony of Virginia , †  March 18, 1836 in Albemarle County , Virginia ) was an American politician . Between 1811 and 1823 he represented the state of Virginia in the US House of Representatives .

Career

Hugh Nelson was the son of Governor Thomas Nelson (1738–1798). He attended the public schools of his home country and then studied until 1780 at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg . He later embarked on a political career. Nelson served in the Virginia Senate from 1786 to 1791 . In the late 1790s he became a member of the Democratic Republican Party founded by Thomas Jefferson . Between 1805 and 1809 and again in 1828 and 1829 he was a member of the Virginia House of Representatives , where he also served as a speaker . In the meantime he was a judge on the General Court .

In the 1810 congressional election , Nelson was elected to the United States House of Representatives in Washington, DC in the 21st  constituency of Virginia , where he succeeded David S. Garland on March 4, 1811 . After five re-elections, he could remain in Congress until his resignation on January 14, 1823 . Since 1813 he represented there as the successor of John Clopton the 22nd district of his state. Nelson served as chairman of the judiciary committee for three terms. During his time as Congressman, the British-American War of 1812 fell .

Nelson's resignation as congressman took place after his appointment as US ambassador to Spain by President James Monroe . He held this office as the successor to John Forsyth between January 15, 1823 and November 23, 1824. He died on March 18, 1836 at his Belvoir estate in Albemarle County.

Web links

• Hugh Nelson in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)

• Hugh Nelson in the database of Find a Grave (English)