Thomas Amos Rogers Nelson

Thomas Amos Rogers Nelson (March 19, 1812 – August 24, 1873) was an American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives from Tennessee. He was born in Kingston, Tennessee in Roane County. He completed preparatory studies and graduated from East Tennessee College (now the University of Tennessee at Knoxville) in 1828. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1852, and commenced practice in Washington County, Tenness... more

Thomas Amos Rogers Nelson (March 19, 1812 – August 24, 1873) was an American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives from Tennessee. He was born in Kingston, Tennessee in Roane County. He completed preparatory studies and graduated from East Tennessee College (now the University of Tennessee at Knoxville) in 1828. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1852, and commenced practice in Washington County, Tennessee. He served two terms as attorney general of the first judicial circuit. He was appointed commissioner (diplomatic) to China on March 6, 1851. He resigned on July 2, 1851. He was elected as an Opposition Party candidate to the Thirty-sixth Congress and served from March 4, 1859 to March 3, 1861. In May and June 1861, Nelson— who was staunchly opposed to secession— served as president of the East Tennessee Convention, which sought to prevent Tennessee from joining the Confederacy, and eventually attempted to create a separate Union-aligned... less