Wilson Cary Nicholas

Wilson Cary Nicholas
Wilson Cary Nicholas, by Gilbert Stuart. 1805.
United States Senator
from Virginia
In office
December 5, 1799 – May 22, 1804
Preceded by Henry Tazewell
Succeeded by Andrew Moore
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 21st district
In office
March 4, 1807 – November 27, 1809
Preceded by Thomas M. Randolph, Jr.
Succeeded by David S. Garland
19th Governor of Virginia
In office
December 1, 1814 – December 1, 1816
Preceded by James Barbour
Succeeded by James P. Preston
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
In office
1788–1789
Personal details
Born (1761-01-31)January 31, 1761
Williamsburg, Colony of Virginia, British America
Died October 10, 1820(1820-10-10) (aged 59)
Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S.
Political party Democratic-Republican
Relations Brother of George Nicholas
Uncle of Robert C. Nicholas
Alma mater College of William and Mary

Wilson Cary Nicholas (January 31, 1761 – October 10, 1820) was an American politician who served in the U.S. Senate from 1799 to 1804 and was the 19th Governor of Virginia from 1814 to 1816.

Early life

He was born in Williamsburg in the Colony of Virginia and later attended the College of William and Mary.

Revolutionary War

Nicholas served as a lieutenant in the Albemarle County Militia during the American Revolution.[1]

Career

After the war, he was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1784 to 1789 and a delegate to the ratifying convention of 1788, which approved the Federal Constitution.

During the deliberations, on June 6, 1788, Nicholas countered Patrick Henry's objection that correcting defects in the new national Constitution by way of the Article V convention would be excessively difficult. Nicholas said, "The conventions which shall be so called will have their deliberations confined to a few points; no local interest to divert their attention; nothing but the necessary alterations. They will have many advantages over the last Convention. No experiments to devise; the general and fundamental regulations being already laid down."[2]

From 1794 to 1800, Nicholas served again in the House of Delegates. He was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the US Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Henry Tazewell and served from December 5, 1799, until May 22, 1804, when he resigned to become collector of the port of Norfolk 1804–1807. He was elected to the US House of Representatives in the Tenth and Eleventh Congresses and served from March 4, 1807 to his resignation, on November 27, 1809.

He was made Governor of Virginia and served in that position from 1814 to 1817.

Nicholas also served as president of the Richmond branch of the Second Bank of the United States. His speculations in western lands put him in serious debt during the Panic of 1819. Having convinced Thomas Jefferson to endorse two of his notes for $10,000 each, he also plunged Jefferson into debt.[3]

Death

He died at Tufton, near Charlottesville, Virginia. Nicholas was interred in the Jefferson burying ground at Monticello, near Charlottesville.

Family

He married Margaret Smith (1765–1849) of Baltimore. His brother George was married to Margaret's sister, Mary. Margaret and Mary Smith were the sisters of Samuel Smith and Robert Smith.

The children of Nicholas and Margaret Smith included Mary Buchanan, Charlotte G., Jane Hollins, John Smith, and Sidney Smith. Jane Hollins Nicholas (1798–1871) was the wife of Thomas Jefferson's grandson Thomas Jefferson Randolph (1792–1875).

Legacy

Nicholas County, West Virginia was formed in 1843 and named for him. Also named for him is a residence hall at William and Mary.[4]

References

  1. ↑ The Magazine of Albemarle County History, Volumes 35–36. Albemarle County Historical Society. 1980. p. 143.
  2. ↑ Eliot's Debates, vol. 3, p. 102, quoted in Russell L. Caplan, Constitutional Brinksmanship, Amending the Constitution by National Convention (New York: Oxford University Press, 1988), p. 139.
  3. ↑ Herbert E. Sloan, Principle and Interest: Thomas Jefferson and the Problem of Debt (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2001), p. 219
  4. ↑ by. "William & Mary – Cabell & Nicholas Halls". Wm.edu. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  • United States Congress. "Wilson Cary Nicholas (id: N000086)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • Wilson Cary Nicholas at Find a Grave

Archival Records

U.S. Senate
Preceded by
Henry Tazewell		 U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Virginia
December 5, 1799 – May 22, 1804
Served alongside: Stevens T. Mason, John Taylor, Abraham B. Venable		 Succeeded by
Andrew Moore
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Thomas M. Randolph, Jr.		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 21st congressional district
March 4, 1807 – November 27, 1809		 Succeeded by
David S. Garland
Political offices
Preceded by
James Barbour		 Governor of Virginia
December 1, 1814 – December 1, 1816		 Succeeded by
James P. Preston
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