William Nicholson (naval officer)
Encyclopedia
William Carmichael Nicholson (ca. 1790 – 25 July 1872) was an officer in the United States Navy
during the War of 1812
and the Civil War
.
A native of Maryland
, Nicholson was the son of naval officer John Nicholson
. He entered as a midshipman
in 1812 and served on the USS President
under Stephen Decatur
during the War of 1812.
Commissioned captain in 1855, he commanded steam frigate
USS Roanoke
from May 1861. Appointed Commodore
on the retired list in July 1862, he served a year on the Retiring Board. He died at the Philadelphia Naval Asylum
at the age of approximately eighty.
were named for him, his father, his uncles, James Nicholson
and Samuel Nicholson
, and his cousin, James W. Nicholson
.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
and the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
A native of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, Nicholson was the son of naval officer John Nicholson
John Nicholson (naval officer)
John Nicholson was an officer in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War.The son of Joseph and Hannah Scott Nicholson, he was born in Chestertown, Maryland. John Nicholson entered the Continental Navy as Lieutenant in October 1776 and the next month was promoted to Captain to...
. He entered as a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
in 1812 and served on the USS President
USS President (1800)
USS President was a nominally rated 44-gun wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. She was named by George Washington to reflect a principle of the United States Constitution. Forman Cheeseman was in charge of her construction, and she was launched in April 1800 from a...
under Stephen Decatur
Stephen Decatur
Stephen Decatur, Jr. , was an American naval officer notable for his many naval victories in the early 19th century. He was born on the eastern shore of Maryland, Worcester county, the son of a U.S. Naval Officer who served during the American Revolution. Shortly after attending college Decatur...
during the War of 1812.
Commissioned captain in 1855, he commanded steam frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
USS Roanoke
USS Roanoke (1855)
|- External links :**...
from May 1861. Appointed Commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
on the retired list in July 1862, he served a year on the Retiring Board. He died at the Philadelphia Naval Asylum
Philadelphia Naval Asylum
The Philadelphia Naval Asylum, later the Naval Home, was a hospital, the Philadelphia Naval School, and a home for retired sailors for the United States Navy from 1834 to 1976, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
at the age of approximately eighty.
Namesake
The ships named USS NicholsonUSS Nicholson
Four ships of the United States Navy have borne the name USS Nicholson, named in honor of the Nicholson family, James; Samuel; John; William; and James W.., was a Blakely-class torpedo boat, launched in 1901 and struck in 1909...
were named for him, his father, his uncles, James Nicholson
James Nicholson (naval officer)
James Nicholson was an officer in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War.The son of Joseph and Hannah Scott Nicholson, he was born in Chestertown, Maryland. James Nicholson served in the colonial Navy with the British in the assault on Havana in 1762, and was commissioned...
and Samuel Nicholson
Samuel Nicholson
Samuel Nicholson was an officer in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War and later in the United States Navy. -Early life:...
, and his cousin, James W. Nicholson
James W. Nicholson
Rear Admiral James William Augustus Nicholson was an officer in the United States Navy during the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War.-Biography:...
.