Hugh Nelson was an American politician, jurist and diplomat.
Background
Hugh Nelson was born on September 30, 1768 on the soil of York County, Virginia, United States. He was the fifth child of Thomas Nelson, Revolutionary governor of Virginia, and his wife Lucy, daughter of Philip and Mary Randolph Grymes of Middlesex.
Education
He was of the vintage of Revolutionary Virginia sons who were not sent like their fathers to old England but were given their education at the College of William and Mary at Williamsburg, where he was graduated in 1790.
Career
Nelson moved to Albemarle County after reaching manhood.
Nelson practised law in Albemarle and began his official career as delegate from the county in the Virginia Assembly from 1805 to 1809. In the interval between his service in the Virginia legislature and his congressional services he was judge of the General Court of Virginia.
In 1811 he was sent to Congress from his district and was returned continuously to that body until he resigned in 1823 to accept appointment by his former neighbor, President Monroe, as minister plenipotentiary to the Court of Spain. Monroe constantly esteemed him as a loyal, dependable friend. On his request he was relieved of his Spanish post in 1825, just before Monroe left the presidency, and returned to Albemarle. There he spent the declining years of his life with a brief interruption when he again represented that county in the Virginia House of Delegates of 1828-29.
He served as a vestryman in the Episcopal Church in his Albemarle parish, was often a member of the annual diocesan convention, and on several occasions represented the church in Virginia in the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States.
Achievements
Religion
Church affairs had his keen interest and hearty support.
Politics
During the years of his congressional office Nelson kept in close touch with Jefferson, reporting to him from the inside such critical issues as the Missouri question.
Personality
Through his father Hugh had had intimate knowledge of the Revolutionary leaders in Virginia and was frequently consulted in his later years for information on figures even then becoming legendary.
Connections
On April 28, 1799, he married Eliza, only child of Francis Kinloch and Mildred Walker, grand-daughter of Jefferson's guardian, Dr. Thomas Walker. Through his wife the estate of "Belvoir" came into his possession and he lived there among the Albemarle hills for many years with an ever increasing family to add liveliness to rural seclusion. There were nine children of this union who reached maturity.