Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 1.djvu/77

 COLONIAL l'RI':SIDEXTS AXl) (iO\ 1-:RX0RS

55

onies lu.rth oi (."iKsajeakc lla\- were formed into a single province under Sir I-~dniund An- dros. Xicliolson. was ai)])i>inieil lieutenant-gov- ernor, and remained at Xew \'ork to repre- sent his superior otificer. When Andros was deposed by the men oi lioston in 1689. Xichol- son's h( t tamper betrayed him into violent language and conduct, which induced a rebel- lion headed by Jacob Leisler. Xicholstm left the colony for ICngland. which temporarily in- creased the anarchic conditions in Xew \'ork, though they ended in the execution of Jacob Leisler and several of liis rebel associates. In -pite of his failure. Xicholson was appointed lieutenant-governor of X'irginia in 1690, and for four years discharged the duties of his new office with ability and entire credit to himself. He instituted athletic games and offered prizes to those who should excel in riding, running, shooting, wrestling and fen- cing. He did all he could to i^romote the founding of William andi Mary College, and contributed largely from his own private means for that purpose. In 1694 Lord Howard of Effingham, the titular governor of \^irginia. imder whom Nicholson served as deputy, died. and that post was conferred upon Sir Edmund .\ndros, while Xicholson was appointed in January. 1694. governor of Maryland. Here he proved himself, as in \'irginia. the patron of learning, and laid out Annapolis and estab- lished King William's school, now St. John's College. His arrogant disposition precipitated him into quarrels with the commissary Thomas Rray and other leading men. and in 1698 he returned to Virginia as governor. His second term of office opened auspiciously. He caused a general census of the colony to be made in respect to schools, churches, and population, and as the state house had been accidentally burned at Jamestown, persuaded the English

government to transfer the seat of govern- ment U) Middle Plantation, which he named Williamsburg in honor of the reigning king, William, formerly 1 'rince of Orange. lUit his pepi)ery temper soon involved him into diffi- culties with his council and with James Blair, president of the college, lie also displeased the assembly by trying to get them to con- tribute towards a fort on the northwest fron- tier of Xew York. Displeased in turn at their unwillingness, he advised the crown that all the American colonies should be placed under one governor and a standing army be main- tained among them at their own expense, be- lieving it to be the only means of preserving an cff'ective unity against Canada and the Erench. I hit this recommendation was not approved by Queen Ann and her ministers, and in April. 1705. he was recalled. During the next fifteen years such public services as he discharged were of a military character, and he headed two expeditions against Canada, but for want of a fleet the expeditions proved failures. In 1713 Nicholson was appointed governor of Acadia, but here again he met difficulties cnving to his imperious temper. \Mien in 17 19 the privy council decided that the proprietors of South Carolina had for- feited their charter, Nicholson was appointed governor, and speedily restored order to that distracted province. Here Xicholson showed the best side of his character, promoted the building of schools and churches, and suc- ceeded in conciliating the Cherokees. In June, 1725. Nicholson returned to England on leave, and does not seem again to have visited America. He had been knighted in 1720 and was promoted to lieutenant-general. He retained the colonial governorship of South Carolina until his death, which took place in London, Marcli 5. 1728. He never married