John Nelson (lawyer)

John Nelson ( born June 1, 1791 in Frederick, Maryland, † January 8, 1860 in Baltimore, Maryland) was an American lawyer, diplomat and politician who belonged to the cabinet of U.S. President John Tyler as Minister of Justice.

Study and career

The son of the future Congressman Roger Nelson first completed a general education studies at the College of William & Mary, which he finished in 1811 with a Bachelor of Arts (BA). After a subsequent study of law, he was admitted to the bar in 1813, Frederick. Between 1823 and 1825 he completed further studies at Princeton University, where he earned a Master of Arts ( MA ) acquired in 1825.

After leaving the government, he was a lawyer in Baltimore.

Political career

Nelson began his political career on March 4, 1821 the election to the House of Representatives of the United States. There he represented for a term up to 3 March 1823 deputy of the Democratic-Republican Party, the interests of the fourth congressional district of Maryland. In 1823 he opted not to run again.

Of 24 October 1831 to 15 October 1832 he was chargé ( charge d'affaires ) in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

On July 1, 1843 President John Tyler appointed him as Minister of Justice ( Attorney General ) in his cabinet; in the meantime he had joined the Whigs. This Official Nelson practiced until the end of Tyler's presidency on March 4, 1845. After the sudden death of the Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur on 28 February 1844, he took over for a month on an interim basis and whose duties before an official successor was found with John C. Calhoun.