Adm Sir Henry Frederick Nicholson RN

Born: 21 October 1835 at Upnor, Frindsbury, Kent.  He was baptised at Frindsbury, Kent, 22 November 1835.  He died 17 October 1914.
Son of: William Henry Nicholson (1799-1880) and Elizabeth Smith (1812?-1899).
Brother of:
William Smith Nicholson (1834-1919).
Stuart James Nicholson (1836-1817).
Isabella Caroline Wray nee Nicholson (1838-18910.
Mary Elizabeth Nicholson (1843-1915).
Possibly others.

Henry married: Frances Anne Thomson in 1874.  She was the daughter of George Thomson, QC, of New Brunswick.

It is assumed that Henry and Frances did not have any children.

Henry's nephew was Adm Stuart Nicholson (1865-1936), son of Stuart James Nicholson (1836-1817).

Henry was a colleague of Adm Sir Leopold George Heath and appears in his photograph album.

Timeline for Henry Frederick Nicholson

1836, 24 October.  Henry born. Upnor, Frindsbury, Kent.  He was the son of of William Henry Nicholson (1799-1880) and Elizabeth Smith (1812?-1899).

Henry's father William was described as a "Banker of Rochester" and was wealthy.  When he died in 1880 his estate was valued at under £70,000 which was a colossal amount of money.

1849, June.  Henry joined the navy (aged 13?).

1855, 7 July.  Henry appointed “Mate” in HMS Vestral which was commanded by Captain Thomas Pickering Thompson (later Admiral Thomas Pickering Thompson, 1810-1892).  They travelled to North Africa and the West Indies. 

1857, 20 February.  Henry was “Mate” in HMS Excellent, commanded by Captain Richard Strode Hewlett.  This was a gunnery ship in Portsmouth.

1857,16 December.  Henry promoted to rank of Lieutenant.

1858, 9 May.  Henry was Lieutenant in HMS Brunswick, commanded by Captain Erasmus Ommanney.  Channel Squadron.

1859, 1 May.  Henry a Lieutenant in HMS Cambridge until 20 December 1864.  This was an old ship that was used as a Gunnery Training Ship at Plymouth.  It was commanded by Captain Arthur William Jerningham, then Captain Leopold George Heath, then Captain Charles Joseph Frederick Ewart.  This is where we first see Henry working with Leopold Heath. 

1864, 20 December.  Henry Lieutenant in HMS Magicienne, commanded by Captain William Armytage.  Mediterranean.

1865, October 11.  Henry’s nephew Stuart was born.  Stuart's parents were William Smith Nicholson (1834-1913) and Elizabeth Johnston (1840-?)

1865, 20 December.  Henry Lieutenant in HMS Cumberland, commanded by Captain George Granville Randolp.  This was a guard ship of the steam reserve, Sheerness, for service in Bellerophon.

1866, 21 March.  Henry Lieutenant in HMS Asia, commanded by Captain Henry Caldwell, guardship of Ordinary, Portsmouth, for service in HMS Bellerophon.

1866, 24 March.  Henry Lieutenant in HMS Bellerophon, commanded by Captain Edward Tatham, Channel squadron.

1866, 11 April.  Henry promoted to Commander.

1866, 1 October.  Henry is Commander (second in command) in HMS Endymion, commanded by Captain Charles Wake, Mediterranean.

1867, 1 January.  Henry is additional commander in HMS Victory, commanded by Captain Hon. Francis Egerton, flag-ship, Commander-in-chief Portsmouth, for service in HMS Royal Alfred.

1867, 14 January.  Henry is commander (second in command) in HMS Royal Alfred, commanded by Captain Walter Cecil Talbot, flagship of Vice-Admiral George Rodney Mundy on the North America and West Indies station.

1869, 3 August.  Henry is Captain in HMS Eclipse. 

1869, 2 September.  Henry is promoted to Captain with seniority 20 July 1869.

1869, 15 September.  Henry confirmed in the rank of Captain with seniority of 20 July.  Sometime after this he had his photograph taken and he gave a copy to Adm Sir Leopold George Heath who then put it in his photograph album.  To see the full photo album of Adm Sir Leopold George Heath click here.

1870, 24 September.  Henry is Captain in HMS Royal Alfred, flagship of Vice-Admiral Edward Gennys Fanshawe on the North America and West Indies station.

1874.  Henry married Frances Anne Thomson, daughter of George Thomson, QC, of St Johns, New Brunswick, Canada.

1875, 19 Feb to 30 April 1877.  Henry attending the Royal Naval College.

1877, 1 May.  Henry is the Naval Attaché to the Courts of Europe.

1878 July, Henry’s nephew Stuart Nicholson joined the navy.

1879, February 7. Henry chaired a meeting for the Royal United Service Institution.  William Hepworth Dixon gave a talk about Cyprus and his forthcoming book "British Cyprus".

1880, 1 May.  Henry is Captain in Penelope, Ship of First Reserve, Coast Guard and Drill Ship of Naval Reserve, Harwich and Flagship of Rear-Admiral the Duke of Edinburgh, Admiral Superintendent of Naval Reserves.

1880, 9 December (or 1881, 1 Jan).  Henry became Captain of HMS Temeraire.  He replaced George Willes Watson.  Later to be Admiral SIR George Willes Watson, K.C.B., Royal Navy (5 April, 1827 – 26 April, 1897).

HMS Temeraire was an ironclad battleship of the Victorian Royal Navy which was unique in that she carried her main armament partly in the traditional broadside battery, and partly in barbettes on the upper deck.  In 1881 she was paid off in Malta and given a new command (Henry Nicholson). At the outbreak of the Anglo-Egyptian War in 1882, she was recommissioned and took part in the attack on the defensive positions on the coast of Alexandria.

1882, 20 May, British and French ships arrived off the coast of Alexandria.  Henry was Captain of HMS Temeraire.  His nephew Stuart was also present as a midshipman on RNHMS Inconstant.

HMS Inconstant was an unarmoured, iron-hulled, screw frigate built for the Royal Navy in the late 1860s. Upon completion in 1869, she was the fastest warship in the world and was assigned to the Channel Squadron. Two years later the ship was transferred to the Detached Squadron for a brief time before she was paid off into reserve in 1872. Inconstant was recommissioned in 1880 for service with the Flying Squadron that circumnavigated the world in 1880–82. On the return voyage, the ship was diverted to Egypt during the Anglo-Egyptian War of 1882 and played a minor role supporting operations ashore.

1882, 11 June, anti-Christian riot in Alexandria.  French fleet was recalled to France.

1882, 11 July, English ships bombarded Alexandria.  Henry was Captain of HMS Temeraire.

1882, 5 August.  Battle of Kafr El Dawwar.  Probing attack by the British.

1882, 14 August.  Captain Henry Frederick Nicholson was awarded the CB, Ordinary Member of the Military Division of the Third Class or Companions of the Most Honourable Order.

1882, 13 September.  Battle of Tell El Kebir.  Decisive win for the British.  The British lost 900 troops and killed approx. 2000 Egyptians.  Urabi was beaten and power was restored to the Khedive.  British troops then occupied Egypt until the Unilateral Declaration of Egyptian Independence of 1922 and Anglo-Egyptian treaty of 1936, giving gradual control back to the government of Egypt.

Henry and his nephew Stuart were both awarded the Egypt Medal and the Khedive's Star.  Henry’s Egypt Medal is engraved around the edge "CAPT H. F. NICHOLSON C.B. R.N.H.M.S. TEMERAIRE".  Stuart’s medal is engraved  “S. NICHOLSON MID,N R.N.H.M.S. INCONSTANT“.

1884, 14 April.  Henry left HMS Temeraire and was succeeded by Compton Edward Domvile.  Later to be Admiral Sir Compton Edward Domvile, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., Royal Navy (1842-1924).

1884, 21 June.  Henry became Captain of HMS Asia.  flagship of Rear-Admiral Frederick Anstruther Herbert, Guardship of Reserve, Portsmouth

1885, 11 April.  Henry’s nephew Stuart Nicholson was promoted to Lieutenant.

1885, 1 July (or 17 July).  Henry appointed Captain Superintendent of Sheerness Royal Dockyard.  He replaced William Codrington.  Later to be Rear-Admiral William Codrington, C.B. (1832-1888).

1886, 24 June.  Henry promoted to Rear-Admiral with seniority of 22 June 1886.

1886, 1 July.  Henry left Sheerness Dockyard and was succeeded by Robert H M Molyneux.  Later to be Admiral Sir Robert Henry More Molyneux, G.C.B., Royal Navy (6 August, 1838 – 29 February, 1904).

1887, 1 June.  Henry appointed Vice-President of the Ordnance Committee.  He replaced Thomas le H Ward.  Later to be Admiral Thomas le Hunte Ward, C.B., Royal Navy, Retired (1830-1907).

1889, 30 June.  Henry left the Ordnance Committee and was succeeded by Compton Edward Domvile.  Later to be Admiral Sir Compton Edward Domvile, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., Royal Navy (10 October, 1842 – 19 November, 1924).

1890, 1 Sept.  Henry became Commander-In-Chief of Cape of Good Hope Station.  He took over from Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Wells.  Later to be Admiral Sir Richard Wells, K.C.B., Royal Navy (1833-1896).

1892, 26 February.  Henry promoted to Vice-Admiral with seniority 25 February 1892.

1892, 21 Sept.  Henry ended his time as Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope Station and West Africa Station.  He was succeeded by Sir Frederick G. D. Bedford.  Later to be Admiral Sir Frederick George Denham Bedford, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., Royal Navy (28 December, 1838 – 30 January, 1913)

1893, 23 January.  Henry gave a speech at the Spectaclemakers' Company dinner giving his opinion concerning the second court-martial relating to the grounding of HMS Howe.  Their Lordships' "severest condemnation" was expressed following a speech.

1896, 19 May.  Henry  became Commander-In-Chief of The Nore (The Sheerness Station) with effect from 10 June 1896.  He took over from Admiral SIR Richard Wells, K.C.B., Royal Navy (3 February, 1833 – 9 October, 1896). 

1897, 22 June.  Henry awarded KCB, Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Military Division of the Order of the Bath.  This was in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee honours.

1897, 16 Sept.  Henry promoted to Admiral with seniority of the same date, 16 Sept 1897.

1897, 10 December.  Henry completed his time as Commander-in-Chief at the Nore.  He was succeeded by Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Frederick Hotham.  Later to be Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Frederick Hotham, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., Royal Navy (1843-1925).

1897, 11 December.  Henry retired.

1914, 17 October.  Henry died.  There is a brass memorial inside the Church of St James, Stanstead Abbots.

I assume that Henry did not have any children and so his estate passed to his nephew Adm Stuart Nicholson.

Henry was a friend of Adm Sir Leopold George Heath.