Nelson, Thomas

Nelson, Thomas, 1738–89, American Revolutionary general, signer of the Declaration of Independence, b. Yorktown, Va. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress (1775–77, 1779), commander (1777–81) of the Virginia militia in the Revolution, and governor (1781) of the state. Nelson lost his fortune aiding the Revolutionary cause and died impoverished.

See E. G. Evans, The Nelsons (1957).

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