Diplomat, politician, attorney. He studied law in Maysville, Kentucky, and later relocated to Indiana, where he practiced in Terre Haute. Nelson was a leader of the Whig party and in the 1850s was a founder of the Republican party. An acquaintance of President Lincoln's from their days practicing law and organizing the Whig and Republican parties, in 1861 Lincoln appointed him Minister to Chile. Nelson became famous world wide for his personal courage in rescuing numerous people during the 1864 burning of the Catholic cathedral in Santiago. Nelson resigned as Minister in 1866 and was an unofficial mediator between Chile and Spain during the 1860s war between Spain and several South American countries. In 1869 President Grant appointed Nelson Minister to Mexico, where he served until 1873. At the conclusion of this assignment he returned to the US and practiced law in Washington, DC, and Terre Haute. Thomas Henry Nelson was the brother of William "Bull" Nelson, a Civil War Major General who was commander of US forces in Kentucky when he was shot and killed by fellow officer Brigadier General Jefferson C. Davis.
Diplomat, politician, attorney. He studied law in Maysville, Kentucky, and later relocated to Indiana, where he practiced in Terre Haute. Nelson was a leader of the Whig party and in the 1850s was a founder of the Republican party. An acquaintance of President Lincoln's from their days practicing law and organizing the Whig and Republican parties, in 1861 Lincoln appointed him Minister to Chile. Nelson became famous world wide for his personal courage in rescuing numerous people during the 1864 burning of the Catholic cathedral in Santiago. Nelson resigned as Minister in 1866 and was an unofficial mediator between Chile and Spain during the 1860s war between Spain and several South American countries. In 1869 President Grant appointed Nelson Minister to Mexico, where he served until 1873. At the conclusion of this assignment he returned to the US and practiced law in Washington, DC, and Terre Haute. Thomas Henry Nelson was the brother of William "Bull" Nelson, a Civil War Major General who was commander of US forces in Kentucky when he was shot and killed by fellow officer Brigadier General Jefferson C. Davis.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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