David Nelson, an American clergyman, born near Jonesborongh, Tenn., Sept. 24, 1793, died at Oakland, 111., Oct. 17, 1844. He was educated at Washington college, Va., and studied medicine in Danville, Ky., and at Philadelphia. He joined a Kentucky regiment as a surgeon in the war of 1812, and proceeded to Canada. On his return he resumed the practice of medicine. After making a profession of religion in early life, he relapsed into infidelity, but at length returned to his religious convictions, became a minister in the Presbyterian church, and was licensed to preach in 1825. He preached for nearly three years in Tennessee, and was engaged in the publication of a periodical called "The Calvinistic Magazine." In 1828 he succeeded his brother Samuel as pastor of the Presbyterian church in Danville, Ky. In 1830 he removed to Missouri, establishing a college in Marion co., 12 m. from Palmyra, of which he became the first president. In 1836, owing to the slavery question, Dr. Nelson, who was a warm emancipationist, removed to the neighborhood of Quincy, 111., and established an institute for the education of young men. In the latter part of his life he was subject to epilepsy, which gradually impaired his faculties.

He published "The Cause and Cure of Infidelity," which passed through many editions.