Nelson Robert

Nelson, Robert (1656-1714), was the son of a Turkey merchant in London, and was educated at St. Paul's. He went to Dryfleld, in Gloucestershire, and was educated by Dr. George Bull. In 1680 he became a member of the Royal Society, and made a long tour in France and Italy with Halley. In 1683 he married, and the state of his wife's health caused him to be absent in Italy when the Revolution took place. In 1691 he became a Non-juror, but joined the Established Church in 1710. He worked on behalf of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, and among his devotional writings the Fasts and Festivals is well known.