James Nicholson | |
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| Born | 1737 |
| Died | (1804-09-02)September 2, 1804 New York City, U.S. |
| Allegiance |  Great Britain United States |
| Branch |  Royal Navy Continental Navy |
| Rank | Seniorcaptain |
| Commands | USSVirginia andUSSTrumbull |
| Battles / wars | |
| Relations |
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James Nicholson (1737 – 2 September 1804) was an officer in theContinental Navy during theAmerican Revolutionary War.
Nicholson was born in 1737 inChesterown,Province of Maryland, into the prestigious colonial Nicholson family of Maryland, a son of Joseph Nicholson (1709–1787) and Hannah (née Smyth) Nicholson (1708–1767).[1] Among his siblings were younger brothersSamuel andJohn Nicholson, who were also officers in the Continental Navy during the Revolutionary War[2] He was also uncle toWilliam Nicholson, an officer in theUnited States Navy during theWar of 1812 and theAmerican Civil War and grand-uncle to Rear AdmiralJames Nicholson, an officer in the U.S. Navy during theMexican–American War and the Civil War.[1]
Nicholson began his career by serving in the colonial Navy with theBritish in the assault onHavana in 1762, and was commissioned Captain in the Continental Navy 10 October 1776. He commandedDefense,Trumbull, andVirginia, and when blockaded atBaltimore, Maryland, took his men to joinGeorge Washington at theBattle of Trenton to aid in that key victory.[3]
Made the senior captain in the Continental Navy due to political influence, he nevertheless had an undistinguished career, never winning a victory or capturing a prize. He lost his first command, the frigateVirginia, while trying to run past the British squadron blockading the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. He ran the ship aground and rather than fight the approaching British ships, fled to shore in a boat, leaving theVirginia and her crew to be captured. The next day he approached the captured ship under a flag of truce and asked for his personal effects.[4][5]
Nicholson styled his flight as an "escape" in his report to Congress, and with the only witnesses confined to British prisons, he was eventually given command ofTrumbull. That command he lost to HMSIris when his crew refused to fight.[6]
After the War, Nicholson moved to New York City and became a United States Commissioner of Loans. His home there became a meeting place for New YorkDemocratic-Republican politicians, including followers ofThomas Jefferson andAaron Burr.[7] Nicholson greatly opposedJosiah Ogden Hoffman, including in relation to theJay Treaty,[8] andAlexander Hamilton, who challenged him to a duel in 1795, and his policies.[9]
On July 4, 1788, Nicholson was invited to attend theSociety of Cincinnati as a member and at the meeting, naval officers of similar rank were determined to be entitled to be members of the New York Society.[10]
In 1763, Nicholson was married to Frances Witter (1744–1832), the daughter of Mary (née Lewis) Witter and Thomas Witter.[11] Witter's father Thomas was born inBermuda and became a successful merchant in New York.[12] Together, they were the parents of six children, one son and five daughters, including:[13]
Nicholson died on September 2, 1804, at his home inNew York City. He was buried atTrinity Church in lower Manhattan.
The ships namedUSSNicholson were named for him, his younger brothers,John Nicholson andSamuel Nicholson, his nephew,William Nicholson and his grandnephew,James W. Nicholson.[1]
The town ofNicholson Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania was named in honor of Nicholson's son, James Witter Nicholson.[20]
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.| International | |
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