Background
Nelson was born in Belfast and educated at Belfast Academical Institution.
Nelson was born in Belfast and educated at Belfast Academical Institution.
He stood for Parliament while still minister at Donegall Street. Having been elected, he resigned his pastoral charge and served as the Irish Parliamentary Party Member of Parliament for Mayo in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1880 to 1882. The following year, Nelson attended and addressed the fourth annual meeting of the "Home Rule Association", held in Manchester, England.
He returned to Belfast and lived there in retirement until his death in 1888.
22nd United Kingdom Parliament]
In 1877, he was a founding member of the "Home Rule Confederation".