Samuel Nelson
Born: November 10, 1792
Birthplace: Hebron, New York
Father: Major John Rodgers Nelson 1762 – 1820
Mother: Jean McArthur 1758 – 1831
Wife: Pamela Woods – 1825
Wife: Catherine Ann Russell 1805 – 1875
(Buried: Lakewood Cemetery, Cooperstown, New York)
Children:
Judge Rensselaer Russell Nelson 1826 – 1904
(Buried: Oakland Cemetery, Saint Paul, Minnesota)
Jane Elizabeth Nelson White 1829 – 1862
(Buried: Lakewood Cemetery, Cooperstown, New York)
Political Party: Democratic Party
Education:
1813: Graduated from Middlebury College
Occupation before War:
1817 – 1820: Attorney in Cortland, New York
1820 – 1823: United States Postmaster in Cortland, New York
1823 – 1831: Judge of New York State Circuit Court
1831 – 1837: Associate Justice New York State Supreme Court
1837 – 1845: Chief Justice New York State Supreme Court
1845: Unsuccessful Candidate for United States Senator
1845 – 1872: Associate Justice of United States Supreme Court
1851: Member of Supreme Court during Hotchkiss VS. Greenwood
1855: Presided over Pennsylvania VS. Wheeling and Belmont Bridge
1857: Member of Supreme Court during the Dred Scott Case
Civil War Career:
1845 – 1872: Associate Justice of United States Supreme Court
1863: Noted for his legal opinion the Prize Cases
Criticized for his opinion that blockade of southern ports was Unconstitutional
Occupation after War:
1845 – 1872: Associate Justice of United States Supreme Court
Urged to reduce the penalties on the defeated South
Nelson's loyalty to the Union was questioned because of his position
1871 – 1872: Member of High Commission on Alabama Claims
His Law Office was preserved as part of Farmers Museum
Died: December 13, 1873
Place of Death: Cooperstown, New York
Age at time of Death: 81 years old
Burial Place: Lakewood Cemetery, Cooperstown, New York
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