SIR

See also:

• NICHOLAS
• NICHOLAS (1841– )
• NICHOLAS (or NICLAES), HENRY (or HENDRIK) (c. 1501-C. 158o)
• NICHOLAS, SIR EDWARD (1593-1669)
• NICHOLAS, ST

NICHOLAS

See also:

• HARRIS, GEORGE, 1ST BARON (1746–1829)
• HARRIS, JAMES (1709-1780)
• HARRIS, JOEL CHANDLER (1848-1908)
• HARRIS, JOHN (c. 1666-1719)
• HARRIS, SIR WILLIAM SNOW
• HARRIS, THOMAS LAKE (1823-1906)
• HARRIS, WILLIAM TORREY (1835-1909)

HARRIS

See also:

• NICOLAS
• SIR NICHOLAS HARRIS NICOLAS (1799–1848)

NICOLAS (1799–1848)  , English antiquary, fourth son of John Harris Nicolas (d . 1844), was born at Dartmouth on the loth of March 1799 . Having served in the navy from 1812 to 1816, he studied law and was called to the bar at the Inner Temple in 1825 . His work as a barrister, however, was confined principally to peerage cases before the House of Lords, and his time was mainly devoted to genealogical and historical studies . In 1831 he was made a knight of the order of the Guelphs, and in 1832 chancellor and knight-commander of the order of St Michael and St George, being advanced to the grade of the grand cross in 184o . He became a member of the council of the Society of Antiquaries in 1826, but soon began to criticize the management of the society's affairs, and withdrew in 1828 . He then criticized the Record Commission, which he regarded as too expensive . These attacks, which brought him into controversy with Sir Francis Palgrave, led in 1836 to the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the public records . He was also responsible for several reforms at the British Museum . In 1822 Nicolas married Sarah (d . 1867), daughter of John Davison of Loughton, Essex, a reputed descendant of the Tudor statesman William Davison . By her he left two sons and six daughters .

Pecuniary difficulties compelled him to leave

England, and he died near Boulogne on the 3rd of August 1848 . Although a sharp and eager controversialist Nicolas was a genial and generous man, with a great knowledge of genealogical questions . The most important of the works Of Nicolas is his History of the Orders of Knighthood of the British Empire; of the Order of the Guelphs; and of Medals, Clasps, &c., for Naval and Military Services (London, 1841-1842) . Among his numerous other writings are, The Chronology of History (London, 1833) ; Life of William Davison (London, 1823) ; Synopsis of the Peerage of England (London, 1825) ; Life and Times of Sir Christopher Hatton (London, 1847) ; and an uncompleted History of the Royal Navy (London, 1847) . He edited Proceedings and Ordinances of the Privy Council of England, 1386–1542 (London, 1834–1837), and Despatches and Letters ,of Lord Nelson (London, 1844–1846) ; wrote lives of Chaucer, Burns, Cowper . Thomson, Collins, Kirke White and others for Pickering's Aldine edition of the poets; lives of Izaak Walton and Charles Cotton for an edition of the Corn pleat Angler; and several elaborate works on genealogical and kindred subjects printed for private circulation only .