Nicholson, David B., a minister of the Method- ist Episcopal Cliurch, South, was born in the county of Iredell, N.C., Feb. 1, 1809. He was converted and join- ed the Church at the age of nineteen. He soon after determined to enter the ministry, and was received on probation in the Virginia Conference in 1831; he was afterwards ordained deacon and elder, and for the space of eleven years supplied many important charges. In 1842 he was appointed presiding elder of the Newbern District, and was continued in that office for the next twenty-tive years, except the years 1861 and 1862, when be was iia charge of the Magnolia Circuit. He
was several times elected to the General Conference, and was twice called to preside over his own conference in the absence of the bishop. He died April 15, 1866. In all his official career — in quarterly, annual, and gen- eral conferences — his prudence and soundness of judg- ment created a great confidence in his opinions ujion all matters touching the interests of the Church. His busi- ness habits were so exact and wise that, from time to time, he was elected a trustee of most of the institutions of the Church. His integrity in all departments of ac- tion was of a stern and lofty style. He dealt justly, he loved mercy, he walked humbl^' in the sight of God. He was a good, faithful, devout man, a citizen without reproach, a Christian of great purity of heart and life. See Min. of Aim. Corf. M.E. Church, South, 18G6-18G9, p. 13.
Nicholson, John, a minister of the ]\Icthodist Episcopal Church, was born at Lewes, Del., Nov. 2, 1807; was converted in Philadelphia; joined the Phila- delphia Conference in 1828; in 1835 was set off with the New Jersey Conference; in 1838 was returned to the Philadelphia Conference; 1838-41 was stationed in Philadelphia, and there he died, Oct. 11, 1843. John Nicholson " was a man of study, of method, and of prayer." He was indeed one of the most diligent students of his time in the ministrj' of his Church. His talents were substantial rather than splendid, and his ministry in demonstration of the spirit and of power. Many conversions and much good resulted from his labors, and his memory is precious. See Minutes of Conferences, iii, 468. (G. L. T.)
Nicholson, William (1), a noted English prel- ate, was born near the close of the IGth century, and was educated at ]\Iagdalen College, Oxford. After tak- ing holy orders, he was first rector of Landeilovawr, 1629; subsequently canon-residentiary of St. David's, and archdeacon of Brecknock; ejected at the Pcbel- lion,but elevated to the bishopric of Gloucester in 1660- 1661, and held that see until his death in 1G72. He maintained and defended the Church of England against its enemies in the days of its adversity, and is said to have been a person of great learning and piety. He was greatly admired by Dr. George Bull for his knowl- edge of the fathers and the schoolmen, and for his large stores of critical learning. He wrote. Apology for the Discipline of the Ancient Church of England (Lond. 1657-59, 4to) : — "EkShoiq TvicTiwg, or an Ea-jwsiiion of the Ajtostles' Creed, delivered in sevei'al Sennons (1661, fol.), very rare : — A Plaine but Full Exposition of the Catechisme of the Church of England (Lond. 16G1, 16G2, 1663, 1668, 1678, 1G86, 4to; new ed. 1844, 8vo). See Nelson, Life of Bishop Bull, p. 206; Stoughton, Eccles. Hist, of England {Church of the Restoration), i, 492; Tidlocii, Pat. rheol. of England, i, 361.
Nic(h)olson, 'Willi am (2), D.D., a learned Eng- lish prelate, son of Joseph Nicholson, rector of Hemland, in Cumberland, was born at Orton, in that county, about 1655. After a preparatory training he was sent to Ox- ford, and entered Queen's College in 1670. He took the degree of B.A. in 1675-6, and IM.A. in 1679. He was soon after invited by Sir Joseph Williamson, fellow of the same college, and then secretary of state to Charles II, to accompany him in his travels in Germany. Nicholson also visited France, and on his return to England wrote on what he had seen abroad. He was made fellow of his college in 1679. About the same time his merit recommended him to Dr. Edward Rainbow, bishop of Carlisle; he was presented with a province and deanery in that church ; and afterwards (1702), having greatly distinguished himself in the literary world, was pro- moted to the see of Carlisle. Bishop Nicholson was deepl)' engaged in the Bangorian controversy, which be- gan in 1717. In 1718 he was translated to the bishopric of Londonderry, in Ireland. Still continuing in favor at court, he was, Jan. 28, 1726, raised to tlie arcliliishopric of Cashell, and made primate of ]Munster in the room
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of Dr. William Paliser; but he was prevented from entering into the full possession of this last dignity by his sudden death, which occurred at Derry, Feb. 13, 1727. Brown Willis observes, in relation to his charac- ter, that he was a man of very great learning, to whom the world is much indebted, not only for what he has published on antiquity, but in the universal sciences. He w'as certainly endued with an industrious faculty, such as is requisite for an antiquarian. He frequently falls, however, into mistakes for want of suihcient ac- curac_v, not only in respect to manuscripts, which might be excusable, but in regard to printed and common books ; and moreover the character he gives of many authors appears not to be free from prejudice. The best- known of his learned writings are his Descriptions of Pohtud, Denmark, etc.; the English Historical Librai-y (1G9G) ; and especially his Tracts on the Bangorian con- troversy, entitled A True State of the Controversij be- tween the present Bishop and Dean of Carlisle. He also published a Sermon preached in the cathedral church of Carlisle, and some other sermons preached at differ- ent times, but these have never been collected into a volume. See Hook, Eccles. Biog. vii, 416-4"21; Perry, Hist, of the Ch. of England, iii, o87 ; Stephen, Hist, of the Ch. of Scotland, iv, 61, 112, 133 sq. ; Allibone, Diet, of Brit, and A mer. A nth. ii, s. v. ; Gen. Biog. Diet. s. v.