The New International Encyclopædia/Nicolay, John George

NICOLAY, nĭ'kṓ-lắ, (1832-1901). An American author, born in Essingen, Bavaria, February 22, 1832. He came to the United States in 1838, attended school in Cincinnati, Ohio, and later went to Illinois, where he edited the Pike County Free Press, at Pittsfield. Then be became assistant to the Secretary of State of Illinois, and while in this position met Abraham Lincoln. He served as private secretary to Lincoln during the Civil War (1861-65), and after the death of the President became United States Consul at Paris, France (1865-69). He was marshal of the United States Supreme Court (1872-87). Besides contributions to the leading magazines, his writings include books on the Civil War and on Lincoln, The Outbreak of the Rebellion (1881), and jointly with John Hay (q.v.) Abraham Lincoln: A History. This authoritative work appeared in the Century Magazine serially from 1886 to 1890, and was then issued in book form, together with the Complete Works of Abraham Lincoln, in 12 volumes (1890-94).