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[[File:Sir-Douglas-Romilly-Lothian-Nicholson, NPG x186848.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Admiral Douglas R. L. Nicholson, April, 1925.<br><small>Portrait: © National Portrait Gallery, London.</small>]] [[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] {{SIR}} '''Douglas Romilly Lothian Nicholson''', K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., Royal Navy (4 March, 1867 &ndash; 8 February, 1946) was an officer of the [[Royal Navy]] during the [[First World War]]. ==Life & Career== Nicholson was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 1 April, 1889.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/25917/pages/1865 no. 25917. p. 1865.] 2 April, 1889.</ref> Nicholson was appointed Flag Lieutenant to Admiral [[Frederick William Richards|Sir Frederick W. Richards]], Commander-in-Chief on the [[China Station]], on 29 November, 1890.<ref>"Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). ''The Times''. Saturday, 8 November, 1890. Issue '''33164''', col C, p. 8.</ref> On 16 September, 1892, Nicholson was appointed to the [[H.M.S. Anson (1886)|''Anson'']] as Flag Lieutenant to Rear-Admiral [[Edward Hobart Seymour|Edward H. Seymour]],<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). ''The Times''. Saturday, 10 September, 1892. Issue '''33740''', col D, p. 6.</ref> the new Second-in-Command of the [[Channel Squadron (Royal Navy)|Channel Squadron]]. He was appointed Flag Lieutenant to Vice-Admiral [[Compton Edward Domvile|Compton E. Domvile]] on 8 June, 1897.<ref>"The Naval Review at Spithead" (Official Appointments and Notices). ''The Times''. Wednesday, 9 June, 1897. Issue '''35225''', col D, p. 10.</ref> Nicholson was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 19 August, 1899.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27110/pages/5250 no. 27110. p. 5250.] 22 August, 1899.</ref> ==Captain== Nicholson was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 30 June, 1904.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27691/pages/4182 no. 27691. p. 4182.] 1 July, 1904.</ref> He was reappointed as Superintendent of Signal Schools on the same date. On 20 August, 1905, he was appointed to the {{UK-Hyacinth|f=t}}, as Flag Captain to Rear-Admiral [[Edmund Samuel Poë|Edmund S. Poë]], the new Commander-in-Chief on the [[East Indies Station]]. At some point Poë's flag was transferred to ''Hyacinth's'' sister ship, {{UK-1Hermes}}. He was superseded in command on 20 August, 1908.<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref> Back in Britain, he was appointed to H.M.S. ''President'' to take the War Course at the [[Royal Naval War College]], Portsmouth.<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref> He was placed first in order of merit out of six captains with a First Class pass on the course, which ran from 9 February to 28 May, 1909.<ref>{{TNA|ADM 203/99}}. f. 35.</ref> From 1 September to 19 October he served in the {{UK-Inflexible|f=t}} as Flag Captain to Admiral of the Fleet [[Edward Hobart Seymour|Sir Edward H. Seymour]] on a voyage to New York City for the Hudson-Fulton celebrations.<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref> On 17 January, 1910, he was appointed to ''Victory'' for command of the new {{UK-StVincent|f=t}}, building at Portsmouth dockyard. However, on 31 January he was appointed in command of the {{UK-LordNelson|f=t}},<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref> after her captain, [[Robert Keith Arbuthnot, Fourth Baronet|Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot]], was summarily relieved of command for making intemperate political remarks in a public address. Nicholson was reappointed to {{UK-StVincent}} on 31 March, and remained in command until 5 January, 1912. He was appointed to ''Vivid'' on 15 May for command of the battleship {{UK-Conqueror}}, building at [[William Beardmore & Company]]'s, Parkhead.<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref> On 16 December, 1913, Nicholson was appointed to the Royal Yacht ''Victoria and Albert'' as {{Com2RN}} in command of H.M. Yachts.<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref> ==Great War== On 8 August, 1914, Nicholson was appointed in command of the battleship {{UK-Agincourt}} of the {{UK-BS|4}}<ref>{{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref> He was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}} on 10 January, 1916, vice [[Charles Hope Dundas of Dundas|Dundas of Dundas]].<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29439/pages/626 no. 29439. p. 626.] 14 January, 1916.</ref> He was superseded in command of ''Agincourt'' on the same day.<ref>{{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref> After a bout of haemorrhoids he was appointed Rear-Admiral in the {{UK-BS|3}} on 13 March, 1917, flying his flag in {{UK-Zealandia}}, and, from 26 March, {{UK-Hibernia}}.<ref>{{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 290.</ref> When [[Roger John Brownlow Keyes, First Baron Keyes|Roger Keyes]] was appointed out of the {{UK-BS|4}} to the new position of [[Director of Plans (Royal Navy)|Director of Plans]] at the Admiralty, squadron commander [[Frederick Charles Doveton Sturdee, First Baronet|Sir F. C. Doveton Sturdee]] requested "White Nick" to succeed Keyes.<ref>''Keyes Papers''. '''I'''. p. 408.</ref> Nicholson hoisted his flag on 25 September in {{UK-Colossus}}.<ref>{{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 290.</ref> On 11 February, 1918, Sturdee wrote of him, "Has not served long in Squadron but fulfils my expectations when I applied for him. A most loyal second & an addition to the Squadron."<ref>{{TNA|ADM 196/88.}} f. 56.</ref> ==Post-War== Nicholson was appointed an Additional Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, in the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (K.C.M.G.) on 24 March, 1919.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31248/supplements/3859 (Supplement) no. 31248. p. 3859.] 24 March, 1919.</ref> After the dispersal of the Grand Fleet on 8 April, he was appointed Rear-Admiral Commanding, Third Battle Squadron in the Home Fleet.<ref>"End of Grand Fleet" (Official Appointments and Notices). ''The Times''. Thursday, 3 April, 1919. Issue '''42065''', col D, p. 13.</ref> In recognition of his services during the war, on the occasion of the King's birthday he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (K.C.V.O.) dated 24 April.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31379/supplements/7050 (Supplement) no. 31379. p. 7050.] 3 June, 1919.</ref> He was promoted to the rank of {{ViceRN}} on 29 January, 1920, vice [[Francis Spurstow Miller|Miller]].<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31791/supplements/2189 (Supplement) no. 31791. p. 2189.] 24 February, 1920.</ref> Nicholson was promoted to the rank of {{AdmRN}} on 10 March, 1925, vice [[Ernest Frederick Augustus Gaunt|Gaunt]].<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/33031/pages/1954 no. 33031. p. 1954.] 20 March, 1925.</ref> He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 1 March, 1926.<ref>''The London Gazette'': [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/33139/pages/1650 no. 33139. p. 1650.] 5 March, 1926.</ref> ==Bibliography== {{refbegin}} *"Admiral Sir Douglas Nicholson" (Obituaries). ''The Times''. Saturday, 9 February, 1946. Issue '''50372''', col E, p. 7. *[[Roger John Brownlow Keyes, First Baron Keyes|Keyes, Admiral of the Fleet Roger John Brownlow, First Baron Keyes]] (1972). Halpern, Paul G.. ed. ''The Keyes Papers''. '''Volume I: 1914-1918'''. London: Navy Records Society. {{refend}} ==Service Records== {{refbegin}} *{{ADM196|88|D8115431}} *{{ADM196|42|D8112189}} {{refend}} <div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}} {{TabNaval}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[John Barnes Sparks|John B. Sparks]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Spiteful (1899)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Spiteful'']]'''<br>11 Jan, 1901<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref> &ndash; 14 Feb, 1902<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Algernon William Abbott|Algernon W. Abbott]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Morgan Singer|Morgan Singer]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Flying Fish (1897)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Flying Fish'']]'''<br>11 Jan, 1901<ref>"Naval & Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). ''The Times''. Friday, 28 December, 1900. Issue '''36337''', col D, p. 5.</ref><ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Hugh Percival Buckle|Hugh P. Buckle]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Geoffrey Tatton Bowles|Geoffrey T. Bowles]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Dove (1898)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Dove'']]'''<br>14 Feb, 1902<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref> &ndash; 10 Jun, 1902<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Archibald Campbell Goolden|Archibald C. Goolden]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[H.M.S. Success (1901)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Success'']]'''<br>10 Jun, 1902<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref> &ndash; 20 Dec, 1902<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Hubert George Brand|The Hon. Hubert G. Brand]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Erasmus Denison St. Andrew Ommanney|Erasmus D. St. A. Ommanney]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Calliope (1884)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Calliope'']]'''<br>20 Dec, 1902<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref> &ndash; 1 Jan, 1904<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Robert Edmund Ross Benson|Robert E. R. Benson]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Allan Frederic Everett|Allan F. Everett]]'''|'''[[Superintendent of Signal Schools|Superintendent of Signal Schools]]'''<br>1 Jan, 1904<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref> &ndash; 20 Aug, 1905<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Henry George Glas Sandeman|Henry G. G. Sandeman]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Horace Lambert Alexander Hood|The Hon. Horace L. A. Hood]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Hyacinth (1898)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Hyacinth'']]'''<br>20 Aug, 1905<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/88.}} f. 56.</ref> &ndash; Dec, 1905<ref>Inference drawn, in part, from Lewes Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 300.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Price Vaughan Lewes|Price V. Lewes]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Price Vaughan Lewes|P. Vaughan Lewes]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Hermes (1898)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Hermes'']]'''<br>1906<ref>Lewes Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 300.</ref><ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/88.}} f. 56.</ref> &ndash; 20 Aug, 1908<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/88.}} f. 56.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Philip Wylie Dumas|Philip W. Dumas]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. St. Vincent (1908)|Captain of H.M.S. ''St. Vincent'']]'''<br>17 Jan, 1910<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref> &ndash; 31 Jan, 1910<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Douglas Romilly Lothian Nicholson|Douglas R. L. Nicholson]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Sackville Hamilton Carden|Sackville H. Carden]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Lord Nelson (1906)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Lord Nelson'']]'''<br>31 Jan, 1910<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref> &ndash; 31 Mar, 1910<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Alfred Ernest Albert Grant|Alfred E. A. Grant]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Douglas Romilly Lothian Nicholson|Douglas R. L. Nicholson]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. St. Vincent (1908)|Captain of H.M.S. ''St. Vincent'']]'''<br>31 Mar, 1910<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref>{{NLApr11|p. 371}} &ndash; 5 Jan, 1912<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Herbert Edward Holmes-à-Court|The Hon. Herbert E. Holmes-à-Court]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Conqueror (1911)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Conqueror'']]'''<br>15 May, 1912<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref>{{NLAug12|p. 295}} &ndash; 16 Dec, 1913<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Norman Craig Palmer|Norman C. Palmer]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Norman Craig Palmer|Norman C. Palmer]]'''|'''[[H.M.Y. Victoria and Albert (1899)|Captain of H.M.Y. ''Victoria and Albert'']]'''<br>16 Dec, 1913<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref> &ndash; 7 Aug, 1914<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Thomas Killick|Thomas Killick]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Norman Craig Palmer|Norman C. Palmer]]'''|'''[[H.M. Yachts (Royal Navy)|Commodore, Second Class Commanding, H.M. Yachts]]'''<br>16 Dec, 1913<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} p. 457.</ref> &ndash; 7 Aug, 1914<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Hubert George Brand|The Hon. Sir Hubert G. Brand]]'''<br><small>as '''Rear-Admiral Commanding, H.M. Yachts'''</small>}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[H.M.S. Agincourt (1913)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Agincourt'']]'''<br>7 Aug, 1914<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref> &ndash; 10 Jan, 1916<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Henry Montagu Doughty|Henry M. Doughty]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Cecil Frederick Dampier|Cecil F. Dampier]]'''|'''[[Third Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral, Second-in-Command, Third Battle Squadron]]'''<br>13 Mar, 1917{{UKCeased|p. 4}} &ndash; 21 Sep, 1917{{UKCeased|p. 4}}|Succeeded by<br>'''Position Abolished'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Roger John Brownlow Keyes, First Baron Keyes|Roger J. B. Keyes]]'''|'''[[Fourth Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral in the Fourth Battle Squadron]]'''<br>25 Sep, 1917<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42}}. f. 290.</ref> &ndash; 3 Dec, 1918<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Montague Edward Browning|Sir Montague E. Browning]]'''|'''[[Fourth Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Vice-Admiral Commanding, Fourth Battle Squadron]]'''<br>3 Dec, 1918<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42}}. f. 290.</ref> &ndash; 1 Feb, 1919<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 457.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Montague Edward Browning|Sir Montague E. Browning]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''New Command'''|'''[[Reserve Fleet (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral Commanding, Devonport Reserve]]'''<br>1 Feb, 1919<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 290.</ref> &ndash; 18 Mar, 1919<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42}}. f. 290.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[James Andrew Fergusson|James A. Fergusson]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[William Edmund Goodenough|Sir William E. Goodenough]]'''|'''[[Second Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral, Second-in-Command, Second Battle Squadron]]'''<br>1 Apr, 1919<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42}}. f. 290.</ref> &ndash; 7 Apr, 1919<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42}}. f. 290.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Lewis Clinton-Baker|Lewis Clinton-Baker]]'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Dudley Rawson Stratford de Chair|Sir Dudley R. S. de Chair]]'''|'''[[Third Battle Squadron (Royal Navy)|Vice-Admiral Commanding, Third Battle Squadron]]'''<br>8 Apr, 1919{{UKCeased|p. 4}}<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42}}. f. 290.</ref> &ndash; 31 Oct, 1919<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42}}. f. 290.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Hugh Dudley Richards Watson|Hugh D. R. Watson]]'''<br><small>as '''Rear-Admiral Commanding, Third Battle Squadron'''</small>}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Vivian Henry Gerald Bernard|Vivian H. G. Bernard]]'''<br><small>as '''Senior Naval Officer, Portland'''</small>|'''[[Portland|Rear-Admiral, Reserve Fleet, Portland, etc]]'''<br>1 Nov, 1919{{NLMar20|p. 695-6}} &ndash; 1 Apr, 1920<ref>"Captain in Charge, Portland" ''The Times'' (London, England), Saturday, Mar 06, 1920; pg. 6; Issue 42352.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[James Rose Price Hawksley|James R. P. Hawksley]]'''<br><small>as '''Captain in Charge, Portland'''</small>}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''?'''|'''[[Reserve Fleet (Royal Navy)|Rear-Admiral Commanding, Portland Reserve]]'''<br>1 Nov, 1919<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 290.</ref> &ndash; 1 Apr, 1920<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42}}. f. 290.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''?'''}} {{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Edmond Hyde Parker|E. Hyde Parker]]'''|'''[[Reserve Fleet (Royal Navy)|Vice-Admiral Commanding, Reserve Fleet]]'''<br>3 Oct, 1922<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42.}} f. 290.</ref> &ndash; 3 Oct, 1923<ref>Nicholson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/42}}. f. 290.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[William Edmund Goodenough|Sir William E. Goodenough]]'''}} {{TabEnd}} </div name=fredbot:appts> ==Footnotes== {{reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Nicholson, Douglas}} {{CatPerson|UK|1867|1946}} {{CatBritannia|July, 1880}} {{CatAdm|UK}}

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