NELSON, Thomas Amos Rogers, congressman, born in Roane county, Tennessee, 19 March, 1812 ; died in Knoxville, Tennessee, 24 August, 1873. He was graduated at East Tennessee college in 1828, admitted to the bar in 1832, and appointed United States district attorney for the 1st district of Tennessee the next year. He canvassed this district as a candidate for elector on the Clay ticket in 1844 and for General Taylor in 1848. Mr. Nelson was appointed United States minister to China in 1851, but declined, and in 1858 was elected to congress as a Democrat, serving in 1859-'61. During the civil war he adhered to the Union, and at its close he did much to conciliate conflicting factions. He was one of the counsel that defended President Johnson on his impeachment in 1868, and in 1870 was elected a judge of the state supreme court, but resigned after one year's service.