Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 08.djvu/87

 NICHOLSON

NICHOLSON

NICHOLSON, Isaac Lea, fifth bishop of Mil- waukee and lo'Jth in succession in the American episcopate, was born in Baltimore, Md., Jan. 18, 1844; son of John Johns and Jane (Ricketts) Nicholson; grandson of Christopher and Mary (Johns) Nicholson, and a descendant of an Eng- lish ancestry, from Appleby, England. He re- ceived his academic training at St. Timothy's Hall, Catonsville, Md., but ill health at this time prevented a college course. He engaged in com- mercial pursuits, including a partnership in his father's banking house. He was graduated from Dartmouth college, A.B., 1869, A.M., 1872, com- pleting his studies at the Virginia Theological seminary, Alexandria, Va., in 1871. He received deacon's orders in Grace church, Baltimore, Sept. 24, 1871, and was ordained priest, Sept. 22, 1872. He served as curate at St. Thomas's church, Hanover, N.H., 1871-72; at St. Paul's, Baltimore, Md., 1872-75; rector of the Church of the Ascen- sion, Westminster, Md., 1875-79, and of St. Mark's, Philadelphia, 1879-91. He declined the episcopate of Indiana in 1883; was elected to and accepted the bishopric of Milwaukee as successor to the Rt. Rev. Cyrus Frederick Knight, who died, June 8, 1891, and he was consecrated at St. Mark's, Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 28, 1891. by Bishops Mc- Laren, Whittaker, Adams, Scarborough, White- head, Rulison, Paret, Worthington, Talbot, A. Leonard and Grafton. He received the degree of D.D. from Nashotah in 1890.

NICHOLSON, James, naval officer, was born in Chestertown, Md., in 1737. His father emi- grated from Berwick-on-Tweed, Scotland; held a grant of land in Virginia, and was an officer under the crown. James shipped as a sailor when a boy and was rapidly promoted, serving as an officer on the fleet that captured Havana in 1762. He resided in New York city, 1763-71, and was married to Frances Witter. In 1775 he enlisted in the Maryland navy, on board the Defiance, and after recapturing a number of American trading crafts taken by the British, was appointed commander of the sloop Vir- ginia, 28 guns, in June, 1776. Upon the dismissal of Commodore Esek Hopkins (q.v.). Captain Nicholson, as senior captain, succeeded him as commander-in-chief of the continental navy and held the position until its dissolution. The Vir- ginia was prevented from escaping from Balti- more by the blockade maintained by the British, and Captain Nicholson, with his crew, joined Gen- ei'al Washington's army at Trenton and took part in the battle at that place. He returned to his ship and in attempting to run the blockade she grounded on a bar and was captured. Captain Nicholson and most of his crew escaping to land. He was subjected to a court of inquiry by congress and acquitted of blame. He next

commanded the frigate Trumbull, 38 guns, and on June 2, 1780, captured the British frigate Watt, and in August, 1781, fell in with the Iris and the General Monk off the capes of Delaware. Of the 120 men on board the Trumbull, many were English sailors who had shipped in order to capture the vessel, and they on the first discharge of a broadside fled into the hold of the vessel, followed by the landsmen, who comprised part of the crew. This left but fifty men to fight the two British frigates and after a desperate con- flict, during which eighteen of the Americans were killed. Captain Nicholson was obliged to strike his colors. He was held a prisoner until near the close of the war. He returned to New York city, where he made his home, and was U.S. commissioner of loans, 1801-04. His brothers Samuel (q.v.) and John were both officers in the Continental navy, and his daughter Hannah married Albert Gallatin in 1793. He died in New York city, Sept. 2, 1804.

NICHOLSON, James William Augustus, naval oflHcer, was born in Dedhani, Mass., March 10, 1821; son of Nathaniel Dowse Nicholson, U.S.N., and grandson of Samuel Nicholson U.S.N, (q.v.). His father served in the war of 1812. James entered the U.S. navy as midshipman, Feb. 10, 1838; was promoted passed midshij^man in 1844, and served as acting master in the war with Mexico, 1841-48. He was promoted lieutenant in 1852 and served on the sloop Van- dalia, on the expedi- ■^S tion to Japan under %i^=- Commodore Perry, vaaioalia

1858-55, and in the Chinese rebellion. He cruised along the coast of Africa in suppress- ing the slave trade, 1857-60, and in 1861 was on board the Pocahontas and went to the relief of Fort Sumter, but arrived after the surrender, April 13, 1861. He commanded the Isaac Smith in the Port Royal expedition and took part in the battle of Port Royal, S.C, Nov. 7, 1861, where he was commended by Admiral Dupont for his coolness and gallantry. He served in Florida in the capture of Jacksonville, Fernan- dina and St. Augustine, and was assigned to the command of St. Augustine. He repulsed a Con- federate flotilla on the Savannah river in February, 1862, was promoted commander, July 16, 1862, and served as ordnance ofiicer on the New York station, 1862-63. He commanded the Shaiiu'ock in the South Atlantic blockading