A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Nickoll, James Harvey
NICKOLL. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 26; h-p., 17.)
James Harvey Nickoll entered the Navy, 2 Sept. 1804, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Agamemnon 64, Capt. John Harvey, previously to accompanying whom, in Sept. 1805, into the Canada 74, he fought in Sir Robt. Calder’s action with the combined fleets off Cape Finisterre. In Dec. 1807, on his return in the Canada from the West Indies, he joined the Éclair sloop, Capt. Chas. Gordon; and on subsequently proceeding with the latter officer, in the Caroline 36, to the East Indies, he assisted at the destruction, during the month of Nov. 1809, of more than 80 piratical vessels at Ras-al-Khyma and other ports in the Persian Gulf. On 18 Sept. 1810, having followed Capt. Gordon into the Ceylon, of 40 guns and 295 men, he was captured in that frigate off the Isle of France, after a violent intermittent night action of three hours, and a loss of 10 killed and 31 wounded, by the French ships Vénus of 44 guns and 380 men, and Victor of 16 guns. The Ceylon being retaken in the course of the same day by the Boadicea 33, in company with the Otter brig, Mr. Nickoll, who continued in her under the orders of Capts. Jas. Tomkinson and Wm. Paterson until May, 1811, was afforded an opportunity of co-operating in the reduction of the Mauritius. From the date last mentioned until July, 1815, we find him employed on the North American and Brazilian stations in the Valiant 74, Capts. Robt. Dudley Oliver and Zachary Mudge. He then found that he had been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant by a commission bearing date 6 Feb. 1815. His next appointment was, 18 Sept. 1820, to the Wye 26, Capt. Peter Fisher, on the Home station, where he served for some months. He has been in command, since 3 April, 1833, of a station in the Coast Guard.