David Nelson

David Nelson (died 20 July 1789) was gardener-botanist on the third voyage of James Cook, and botanist on under William Bligh at the time of the famous mutiny.

Nothing is known of his ancestry or early life. In 1776, while working as a gardener at Kew Gardens, he accepted a position as a servant to William Bayly, the official astronomer on . He was promoted to able seaman; however, his real task as arranged between Joseph Banks and Cook was to collect as many botanical specimens as possible for the Royal Gardens, since Cook had failed to attract an established botanist to the position. He received a small amount of botanical training and instruction from Banks and William Aiton before embarking. During the voyage, he also made a significant collection of native Hawaiian birds, which is now housed in the British Museum. Bligh would later name Mount Nelson, Tasmania in his honor.