Thomas Nelson (January 23, 1819 – July 25, 1907) was an American attorney and judge.

He was appointed as the 2nd Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court serving from 1850 to 1853.

A native of the U.S. state of New York, he lived in Oregon only during his term as chief justice.

[1] In 1850 U.S. President Millard Fillmore appointed Nelson to the territorial supreme court of Oregon to replace William P.

[2] During this same time he served as chief justice of the court, and then left Oregon in August 1853 to return to New York.