He was the son of Thomas Bolton of Wells, Norfolk,[1] and Susannah Nelson, daughter of the Rev.
He was educated at Norwich High School and from 1807 at Peterhouse, Cambridge, graduating MA in 1814.
Bolton changed his name to Nelson on inheriting the earldom, but died later that year.
[4] Frances outlived him by more than forty years and died in 1878 at Trafalgar Park, Wiltshire.
[5] His sister Catherine married Captain Sir William Bolton.