A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Nicolas, William Keigwin
NICOLAS. (Lieut., 1809. f-p., 14; h-p., 30.)
William Keigwin Nicolas was born 23 April, 1792. He is brother of Capt. J. T. Nicolas, R.N., C.B.
This officer entered the Navy, 16 March, 1803, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Malta 80, Capts. Edw. Buller, Wm. Shield, and Robt. Waller Otway, under the first-mentioned of whom he fought as Midshipman in Sir Robt. Calder’s action with the combined fleets off Cape Finisterre 22 July, 1805. In Nov. 1808, on his return from the Mediterranean, he joined the Defiance 74, Capt. Hon. Henry Hotham, attached to the force employed on the coast of France, where, under the batteries of Sable d’Olonne, he contributed, 24 Feb. 1809, to the destruction of three French frigates, after a contest in which the Defiance, added to severe damage experienced in her sails and rigging, sustained a loss of 2 men killed and 25 wounded. He was made Lieutenant, 15 April following, into the Crocodile, Capt. Edwin Henry Chamberlayne, employed off Shetland and in the Arctic Sea; and he was next in succession appointed – 4 Dec. 1809, to the Rapid sloop, Capt. Wm. Mather, in the Channel – 26 Jan. 1811, and 8 March, 1813, to the Boyne 98 and Ville de Paris 110, flag-ships of Sir Harry Burrard Neale on the Home station – and, 11 Jan. 1815, as Senior, to the Pilot 18, commanded by his brother, Capt. John Toup Nicolas. In the Ville de Paris, which ship he paid off as First-Lieutenant in Aug. 1814, he took part in the grand naval review held at Spithead at the close of the war; and in the Pilot he was warmly recommended to the notice of the Admiralty for his conduct in the gallant victory gained by that vessel over the French corvette Légère of 28 guns, 17 June, 1815. Although his Captain, under whose name we have more fully alluded to the action, was deservedly rewarded with a Post commission, the valour displayed by Lieut. Nicolas was allowed to pass unnoticed, nor has it yet been regarded. The Pilot being put out of commission in Aug. 1816, he did not succeed in procuring fresh employment until 16 July, 1847. Since that period he has been serving as First-Lieutenant of the Ocean 80, Capt. David Price, guard-ship at Sheerness.