[1] He served as the first United States Chargé d'Affaires to the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies from 1831 to 1832 and as the U.S. representative for Maryland's 4th district from 1821 to 1823.

His father served as Brigadier general during the Revolutionary War (and one of the original members of the Society of Cincinnati) and, later, a U.S. Representative.

[5] President John Tyler appointed him Attorney General of the United States on July 1, 1843.

[10] Matilda and John were the parents of two children: Nelson died in Baltimore, Maryland, on January 8, 1860.

[11] Through his daughter, he was the grandfather of Charles Steele, who was born in Baltimore and later spent 39 years as a partner in J.P. Morgan & Co. in New York City.