Nelson has had its famous sons. John James Fraser who was born on Beaubear's Island became Lieutenant-Governor in 1893, and in the late 1940s and early 50s Joseph Leonard O'Brien also became Lieutenant-Governor of the province. G. Percival Burchill was a member of the Senate of Canada. Paul Dawson became a provincial Cabinet Minister during the reign of Richard Hatfield. Brothers Doug and Blair Shanahan both received Lord Beaverbrook Scholarships making their family the only one in history to receive two such awards.