Rensselaer Russell Nelson
Encyclopedia
Rensselaer Russell Nelson (May 12, 1826 – October 15, 1904) was a United States federal judge
. He was the son of U.S. Supreme Court justice Samuel Nelson
.
Born in Cooperstown, New York
, Nelson graduated from Yale College
in 1846 and read law to enter the bar in 1849. He was in private practice in Buffalo, New York
from 1849 to 1850, and then in St. Paul, Minnesota Territory until 1853. He was a county attorney of Douglas County, Wisconsin from 1853 to 1855, returning to private practice in St. Paul until 1857. He was an associate justice of the Minnesota Territorial Supreme Court from 1857 to 1858.
On May 20, 1858, Nelson was nominated by President James Buchanan
to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
created by 11 Stat. 285. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on May 30, 1858, and received his commission on May 20, 1858. Nelson served in that capacity until his retirement from the bench, on May 16, 1896.
He then returned to his private practice in St. Paul, Minnesota
, until his death in that city in 1904.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
. He was the son of U.S. Supreme Court justice Samuel Nelson
Samuel Nelson
Samuel Nelson was an American attorney and an Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States....
.
Born in Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown is a village in Otsego County, New York, USA. It is located in the Town of Otsego. The population was estimated to be 1,852 at the 2010 census.The Village of Cooperstown is the county seat of Otsego County, New York...
, Nelson graduated from Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
in 1846 and read law to enter the bar in 1849. He was in private practice in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
from 1849 to 1850, and then in St. Paul, Minnesota Territory until 1853. He was a county attorney of Douglas County, Wisconsin from 1853 to 1855, returning to private practice in St. Paul until 1857. He was an associate justice of the Minnesota Territorial Supreme Court from 1857 to 1858.
On May 20, 1858, Nelson was nominated by President James Buchanan
James Buchanan
James Buchanan, Jr. was the 15th President of the United States . He is the only president from Pennsylvania, the only president who remained a lifelong bachelor and the last to be born in the 18th century....
to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction is the state of Minnesota. Its two primary courthouses are in Minneapolis and Saint Paul...
created by 11 Stat. 285. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on May 30, 1858, and received his commission on May 20, 1858. Nelson served in that capacity until his retirement from the bench, on May 16, 1896.
He then returned to his private practice in St. Paul, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, until his death in that city in 1904.