WILLIAM

See also:

• WILLIAM NICOLSON (1655-1727)

NICOLSON (1655-1727)  , English divine and antiquary, was educated at Queen's College, Oxford (M.A., 1679; fellow, 1679-16S2) . After visiting Leipzig to learn German he was made prebendary of Carlisle in 1681, archdeacon in 1682 . Twenty years later he was appointed bishop of the same diocese, where he remained until his translation to Derry in 1718 . In 1727 he was nominated archbishop of Cashel and Emly, but died before he could assume charge . Nicolson is remembered by the impulsiveness of his temperament, which led him into a good deal of strife as a bishop, and more happily by his zeal in collecting and guarding manuscripts and other official documents . For this purpose he had special rooms built at Derry . His chief works were the Historical Library (English, 1696-97-99; Scottish, 1702; Irish, 1724; complete later editions, 1732 and 1776), and Leges Marchiarum or Border Laws (1705, new ed., 1747) .