Nelson, Knute (1843–1923)

Knute Nelson
Knute Nelson, c.1895.

Norwegian immigrant Knute Nelson served state and country throughout his life, first as a soldier and a lawyer, then as a legislator and the twelfth governor of Minnesota. He was the state's first foreign-born governor.

Nelson was born in Evanger, Voss, Norway, on February 2, 1843. In 1849, he and his widowed mother immigrated to the United States, settling first in Chicago (1849–1850) and then in Dane County, Wisconsin, where he enlisted in the Fourth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry (1861–1864) during the Civil War. After the war, Nelson graduated from the Albion Academy and studied law in a Madison, Wisconsin, law office. He was admitted to the bar in 1867. The same year, he married Nicolina (Nicoline) Jacobson. Nelson, a Republican, was a representative in the Wisconsin Assembly from 1868 to 1869.

In 1871, he moved with his family to Alexandria, Minnesota, where he practiced law while farming a homestead tract. He served as Douglas County attorney (1872–1874), Minnesota state senator (1875–1879), presidential elector (1880), University of Minnesota regent (1882–1893), and Fifth Congressional District representative (1883–1889).

Nelson was elected governor of Minnesota in 1892 and 1894, holding the post from January 4, 1893, to January 31, 1895. He resigned in 1895 to run successfully for the US Senate, where he remained until 1923. Nelson was chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Committee on Public Lands, and he was active on the Commerce and Indian Affairs committees. His most notable legislative measures included the Nelson Bankruptcy Act (1898) and the act creating the Department of Commerce and Labor (1902). He also helped establish the Interstate Commerce Commission. Nelson supported a low tariff, a federal income tax, Prohibition, the Sherman Antitrust Act, and the League of Nations. He died on April 28, 1923, during his fifth senatorial term. He is buried in Alexandria, Minnesota.

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First Published: June 06, 2011
Last Modified: April 16, 2025

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Knute Nelson
Knute Nelson, c.1895.
Knute Nelson
Tintype of Knute Nelson, c.1858.
Knute Nelson in Civil War uniform
Knute Nelson in Civil War uniform, c.1862.
Knute Nelson
Knute Nelson, c.1880.
Inkwell and lid
Glass inkwell with lid belonging to Knute Nelson, c.1890.
New Ulm Republican Club ribbon

New Ulm Republican Club ribbon, "Nelson, Our Next Governor," 1892.

Knute Nelson - Republican Candidate for Governor 1894

Political poster with slogan, "Knute Nelson, Republican Candidate for Governor, 1894."

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Official Governor's Portrait of Knute Nelson, 1895. Painting by artist Carl Gutherz.
Governor Knute Nelson's aluminum calling card case
Governor Knute Nelson's engraved aluminum calling card case, c.1900.
Knute Nelson
Knute Nelson, c.1918. Photograph by Lee Brothers.
Knute Nelson
Knute Nelson on board a ship, c.1919.
Knute Nelson and family
Knute Nelson and family.
Funeral procession for Knute Nelson
Funeral procession for Knute Nelson, on Cedar Street by the State Capitol, 1923.
Bronze statue of Knute Nelson
Statue of Knute Nelson in front of State Capitol building, 1940. Sculpted by John K. Daniels.
Black and white photograph of Governor Knute Nelson's mahogany and leather desk, 1893.
Governor Knute Nelson's mahogany and leather desk, 1893.
Knute Nelson

Knute Nelson

Knute Nelson, c.1895.

Public domain

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society
Knute Nelson

Knute Nelson

Tintype of Knute Nelson, c.1858.

Public domain

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society
Knute Nelson in Civil War uniform

Knute Nelson in Civil War uniform

Knute Nelson in Civil War uniform, c.1862.

Public domain

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society
Knute Nelson

Knute Nelson

Knute Nelson, c.1880.

Public domain

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society
Inkwell and lid

Inkwell and lid

Glass inkwell with lid belonging to Knute Nelson, c.1890.
© Minnesota Historical Society    

All rights reserved

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society
New Ulm Republican Club ribbon

New Ulm Republican Club ribbon

New Ulm Republican Club ribbon, "Nelson, Our Next Governor," 1892.

© Minnesota Historical Society    

All rights reserved

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society
Knute Nelson - Republican Candidate for Governor 1894

Knute Nelson - Republican Candidate for Governor 1894

Political poster with slogan, "Knute Nelson, Republican Candidate for Governor, 1894."

Public domain

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society
Knute Nelson

Knute Nelson

Official Governor's Portrait of Knute Nelson, 1895. Painting by artist Carl Gutherz.

Public domain

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society
Governor Knute Nelson's aluminum calling card case

Governor Knute Nelson's aluminum calling card case

Governor Knute Nelson's engraved aluminum calling card case, c.1900.
© Minnesota Historical Society    

All rights reserved

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society
Knute Nelson

Knute Nelson

Knute Nelson, c.1918. Photograph by Lee Brothers.

Public domain

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society
Knute Nelson

Knute Nelson

Knute Nelson on board a ship, c.1919.

Public domain

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society
Knute Nelson and family

Knute Nelson and family

Knute Nelson and family.

Public domain

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society
Funeral procession for Knute Nelson

Funeral procession for Knute Nelson

Funeral procession for Knute Nelson, on Cedar Street by the State Capitol, 1923.

Public domain

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society
Bronze statue of Knute Nelson

Bronze statue of Knute Nelson

Statue of Knute Nelson in front of State Capitol building, 1940. Sculpted by John K. Daniels.

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society
Black and white photograph of Governor Knute Nelson's mahogany and leather desk, 1893.

Governor Knute Nelson's mahogany and leather desk

Governor Knute Nelson's mahogany and leather desk, 1893.

Holding Location

Minnesota Historical Society

Turning Point

In 1895, Knute Nelson is elected to the US Senate, the culmination of a long career of political service.

Chronology

1843
Knute Nelson is born in Evanger, Voss, Norway, on February 2.
1849
He and his widowed mother immigrate to the United States, settling in Chicago, then Wisconsin.
1861
Nelson enlists in the Fourth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War.
1867
He is admitted to the bar in 1867 and marries Nicolina (Nicoline) Jacobson.
1868
Nelson, a Republican, is a representative in the Wisconsin Assembly, serving until 1869.
1871
He moves with his family to Alexandria, Minnesota, to farm and practice law.
1872
Nelson becomes Douglas County attorney and holds the position until 1874.
1875
He becomes a Minnesota state senator and serves until 1879.
1882
He is University of Minnesota regent and serves until 1893.
1883
He is a Fifth Congressional District representative until 1889.
1892
Nelson is elected governor of Minnesota. He holds the post from 1893 until January 31, 1895.
1895
He resigns as governor to run successfully for the US Senate, where he remains until 1923.
1923
He dies on April 28, during his fifth senatorial term.

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