George Nicholas (politician)
George Nicholas | |
---|---|
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Albemarle County | |
In office October 16, 1786 – June 23, 1788 Serving with John Nicholas, Edward Carter | |
Preceded by | Thomas Walker |
Succeeded by | Wilson Cary Nicholas |
In office May 5, 1783 – May 2, 1784 Serving with Edward Carter | |
Preceded by | Thomas Walker |
Succeeded by | Wilson Cary Nicholas |
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Hanover County | |
In office May 7, 1781 – May , 1782 Serving with John Syme | |
Preceded by | Parke Goodall |
Succeeded by | Parke Goodall |
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Williamsburg | |
In office May 4, 1778 – May 2, 1779 | |
Preceded by | George Wythe |
Succeeded by | Henry Tazewell |
Personal details | |
Born | circa 1754 College of William and Mary |
George Nicholas (c. 1754 – July 25, 1799) was an American lawyer, planter, patriot, military officer and politician who helped to write the first Kentucky constitution and became the first professor of law at Transylvania University. He also briefly served as Attorney General of Kentucky, and several terms in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Early and family life
Nicholas was born in
Military service
A fervent patriot during the American Revolutionary War, Nicholas became a Captain of the 2nd Virginia regiment in October 1775, was promoted to major in the 10th Virginia regiment in November 1776, and lieutenant colonel of the 11th Virginia regiment in September 1777, but resigned that post after two months. However, he spent most of his time in Baltimore (where he courted his wife), and did not lead troops into battle.[2]
Marriage and family
In 1778 he married Mary Smith of Baltimore, whose sister would marry his brother Wilson Cary Nicholas. His brother in laws Samuel Smith and Robert Smith, would become a Congressman in this man's lifetime (then U.S. Senator) and Secretary of the Navy, respectively. George and Mary Nicholas had at least eight children. Their son Samuel Smith Nicholas became a judge and married Matilda Prather. Three of their sons would have military careers: Capt. Robert Carter Nicholas, Major Cary Nicholas and Captain George Nicholas Jr. Other sons included Smith Nicholas and Nelson Nicholas (1791–1826, the editor of the Kentucky Whig). Their daughter Maria Nicholas married Col. Owings of Kentucky (two of their sons would die in battle), and Ann Nicholas married Lewis Saunders[3]
Career
George Nicholas read law under his father, and represented Williamsburg in the Assembly of 1778, succeeding fellow lawyer
In his last Virginia legislative service, George and his brother Wilson Cary Nicholas represented Albemarle County in the
Soon after helping ensure the federal Constitution's ratification, Nicholas and his family moved to Lexington, Kentucky, where he built a home, and also helped draft the new state's constitution as a member of the constitutional convention of 1792. Nicholas also had a large plantation just outside of Danville, Kentucky. In 1789, President Washington appointed Nicholas as the first United States Attorney for the District of Kentucky. However, Nicholas was a controversial figure and soon stepped down from the role as he could not "accommodate himself fully to the democratic government.".[9] In 1799, Nicholas was appointed the first professor of law at Transylvania University.
Death and legacy
However, Nicholas died suddenly on July 25, 1799. He is buried in the Old Episcopal Burial Ground on Lexington's Third Street.[10]
The city of Nicholasville and Nicholas County were named in his honor.[11] The University of Chicago Special Collections Research Center managed to secure some of his papers among those collected by Reuben T. Durrett.[12]
Quotes
"If the federal government try to reach any supplementally condition to impose upon us, we would be in Virginia exonerated."
Notes
- LCCN 83081512.
- ^ "George Nicholas - Wythepedia: The George Wythe Encyclopedia".
- ^ Carlton pp. 196–198
- ^ "George Nicholas - Wythepedia: The George Wythe Encyclopedia".
- ^ Cynthia Miller Leonard, The Virginia General Assembly 1618-1978 (Richmond: Virginia State Library 1978) pp. 131, 142, 149, 160, 164
- ^ John Hammond Moore, Albemarle: Jefferson's County, 1727-1976 (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia for the Albemarle County Historical Society , 1976) pp. 87-88
- ^ Schreiner-Yantis, Netti; Love, Florene Speakman (1987). The 1787 Census of Virginia. Genealogical Books in Print. Springfield, Virginia. p. 142.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ American National Biography, "George Nicholas"
- ^ American National Biography, "George Nicholas"
- ^ "George Nicholas - Wythepedia: The George Wythe Encyclopedia".
- ^ "George Nicholas - Wythepedia: The George Wythe Encyclopedia".
- ^ https://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/scrc/findingaids/view.php?eadid=ICU.SPCL.NICHOLASG Guide to the Reuben T. Durrett Collection of George Nicholas Papers 1788-1890] at the University of Chicago Special Collections Research Center
References
- Allen, William B. (1872). A History of Kentucky: Embracing Gleanings, Reminiscences, Antiquities, Natural Curiosities, Statistics, and Biographical Sketches of Pioneers, Soldiers, Jurists, Lawyers, Statesmen, Divines, Mechanics, Farmers, Merchants, and Other Leading Men, of All Occupations and Pursuits. Bradley & Gilbert. pp. 240–241. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
- Andrew Cayton: American National Biography, "George Nicholas". (subscription required)