A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Nicholls, James Thomas
NICHOLLS. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 23; h-p., 19.)
James Thomas Nicholls entered the Navy, 1 Sept. 1805, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Glory 98, Capts. Sam. Warren, Wm. Albany Otway, and Donald M‘Leod, and was for upwards of two years employed in that ship in the Channel and off Cadiz – part of the time as Midshipman under the flag of Rear-Admiral Chas. Stirling. From Dec. 1807 until Nov. 1811 he was occupied on Home service in the Barfleur 98, Capt. Donald M‘Leod, Bustard 16, Capt. John Duff Markland, Oberon sloop, Capts. Geo. Manners Sutton and Jas. Murray, and Royal William, flag-ship of Sir Rich. Bickerton. He then joined the Dominica schooner, mounting 12 12-pounder carronades, 2 sixes, and a 32-pounder on a traversing carriage, with a complement of 66 men, Capts. Robt. Hockings and Geo. Wilmot Barrette, which vessel, after having had all but one of her crew either killed or wounded in a determined resistance of nearly an hour, was boarded and taken, 5 Aug. 1813, by the Franco-American privateer Decatur, carrying 6 12-pounder carronades and 1 long 18-pounder traversing carriage, together with a crew of at least 120 men, 4 of whom were slain and 15 wounded. On his release from captivity in July, 1814, Mr. Nicholls became attached to the Argo 44, flag-ship at Jamaica of Rear-Admiral Wm. Brown. He was next received on board the Prince 98, bearing the flag at Spithead of Sir Edw. Thornbrough, and Euryalus 36, Capts. Chas. Napier and Thos. Huskisson; and in Aug. 1815 he took up a commission dated 24 of the preceding Feb. He was afterwards employed in the Coast Guard from 5 April, 1831, until the spring of 1844, and has since been on half-pay.