He was born in Dunedin in 1879 and was educated locally at George Street Public School.

When Munro was elected to Parliament in 1922 the partnership was dissolved and Nielson found employment as foreman at another bakery, which he held until 1935.

[3] Mayor Edwin Thoms Cox appointed Neilson chairman of the council's library committee for the triennium.

[5] He was succeeded by fellow Labour member and future Minister of Defense Philip Connolly.

Neilson died on 3 November 1948 at Cook Hospital aged 69 after a three-week illness, survived by his daughter.