John Nelson was a 16th-century English Jesuit priest who was executed in London during the reign of Elizabeth I. Born in Skelton around 1535, he began his religious training in Douai later in life. After being ordained in Binche in 1576, he traveled to England to carry out his mission. His refusal to acknowledge the Queen's spiritual supremacy led to his arrest and subsequent death, making him a recognized martyr for the Catholic faith.