Thomas Nelson, Jr. (December 26, 1738 – January 4, 1789) was an American planter, soldier, and statesman from Yorktown, Virginia. He represented Virginia in the Continental Congress and was its Governor in 1781. He is regarded as one of the U.S. Founding Fathers since he signed the Declaration of Independence as a member of the Virginia delegation.
Thomas, Jr. was the grandson of Thomas "Scotch Tom" Nelson, an immigrant from Scotland who was an e...
more
Thomas Nelson, Jr. (December 26, 1738 – January 4, 1789) was an American planter, soldier, and statesman from Yorktown, Virginia. He represented Virginia in the Continental Congress and was its Governor in 1781. He is regarded as one of the U.S. Founding Fathers since he signed the Declaration of Independence as a member of the Virginia delegation.
Thomas, Jr. was the grandson of Thomas "Scotch Tom" Nelson, an immigrant from Scotland who was an early pioneer at Yorktown. His father, William Nelson was also a leader of the colony, and briefly served as governor. Thomas was born at Yorktown, and like many Virginians of his time, was educated in England. He attended Eton before entering Christ's College at Cambridge University. He graduated in 1760 and returned home the following year. He helped his father with his farm at this time.
Thomas was first elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1761. The following year he married Lucy Grymes (her maternal uncle was Peyton Randolph-the...
less
