Editing Nicholas Harris Nicolas (section)

==Life==
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The fourth son of Commander John Harris Nicolas [[Royal Navy|RN]] (1758–1844) and Margaret (née Blake), he was born at [[Dartmouth, England|Dartmouth]]. He was the brother of Rear Admiral [[John Toup Nicolas]] RN CB KH; 1st Lt [[Paul Harris Nicolas]] [[Royal Marines|RM]]; and Lt Keigwin Nicholas RN.<ref>{{Cite NBD1849 |wstitle= Nicolas, John Toup |volume= 15.3 |last= O'Byrne|first= William Richard |author-link= William Richard O'Byrne| pages= 814-816 |year=1849 |short=1}}</ref>

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]] was confined principally to [[peerage]] cases before the [[House of Lords]], and he devoted the rest of his time to the study of [[genealogy]] and history.

In 1831, he was made a [[knight]] of the [[Royal Guelphic Order]], and, in 1832, chancellor and Knight Commander of the [[Order of St Michael and St George]] (KCMG), being advanced to Grand Cross of the order in 1840. He became a member of the council of the [[Society of Antiquaries of London|Society of Antiquaries]] in 1826, but soon began to criticise the management of the Society's affairs, and withdrew in 1828. He was elected a member of the [[American Antiquarian Society]] in 1838.<ref>[http://www.americanantiquarian.org/memberlistn American Antiquarian Society Members Directory], americanantiquarian.org. Accessed 26 January 2023.</ref>

He criticised the [[Record Commission]], which he regarded as too expensive. These attacks, which brought him into controversy with [[Francis Palgrave]], led in 1836 to the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the public records. Nicolas was also responsible for several reforms at the [[British Museum]].

In 1822, he married Sarah (d. 1867), daughter of John Davison of [[Loughton]], Essex, a reputed descendant of the Tudor statesman [[William Davison (diplomat)|William Davison]]. They had two sons and six daughters. Financial difficulties compelled Nicolas to leave England, and he died near [[Boulogne-sur-Mer|Boulogne]].