Nelson, John, Dd

Nelson, John, D.D.

a minister of the Free Church of Scotland, was born in Edinburgh, in October 1820. After graduating from Edinburgh University, he studied at Berlin, Bonn, and Heidelberg. He became pastor at Greenock in 1851, and exercised there a useful ministry of twenty-six years. In 1855 he visited America, and published, as the result of his observations, an Essay on National Education in the United States and Canada. He travelled extensively on the Continent, officiating as pastor of several of the Free churches. He also spent some time in Egypt, Palestine, and Syria, his failing health requiring repeated respite from labor. He was an earnest advocate for the union between the Free and the Reformed Presbyterian churches in Scotland. He died at Abden House, Edinburgh, January 26, 1878. (W.P.S.)