NICHOLAS, ST. 461 NICHOLSON the Russian reverses in 1915, he was transferred to the command of the Russian forces in the Caucasus, where he aided both the Persian and British armies in Mesopotamia. After the Russian revolution, and subsequent overthrow of the Romanoffs, in 1917, he was said to have been tried and executed by the Bol- sheviki. This report, however, was un- true, and the Grand-Duke escaped the fate of the Czar and the rest of the royal family. NICHOLAS, ST., Bishop of Myra, in Lycia. He is believed to have lived under Diocletian and Constantine, and to have suffered persecution under the former; but little is known of his life. His feast day in the Roman calendar is Dec. 6; he is the patron saint of poor maidens, sailors, travelers, merchants, and children (Santa Klaus), and is one of the most popular saints in the Greek Church. NICHOLAS II. LAND, a group of islands N. of Cape Chelsruskin, Asia. It was discovered in 1913 by Captain Vilkitski. The islands extend about 200 miles to the N. and N. W. to about 81° N., 96° E. The vegetation is scanty and the land is for the most part volcanic. NICHOLS, EDWABD LEAMINGTON, American physicist ; born at Leamington, England, 1854. Graduated from Cornell, 1875. Studied at Leipsic, Berlin, and Gottingen (Ph.D. 1879). Appointed to a fellowship in physics, Johns Hopkins. Worked in Edison's laboratory, Menla Park. Professor of physics and astron- omy, Central University, Kentucky, 1881. Physics and chemistry, University of Kansas, 1883. Professor of physics, Cornell, 1887. Member National Acad- emy of Sciences, and President American Association for Advanced Science, 1907, and of American Physicist Society, 1907- 1918. LL. D. and D. Sc, University of Pennsylvania and Dartmouth. NICHOLS, ERNEST FOX, American scientist; born in 1869 at Leavenworth, Kan. He studied at Kansas Agricultural College, and at Cornell, Berlin, and Cam- bridge. From 1892 he taught physics at Colgate University, and Dartmouth from 1898, and at Columbia from 1903 to 1909, in which year he became head of Dart- mouth. He studied radiation phenomena at Mount Wilson Solar Observatory. He has experimented in the measurement of heat waves, and heat radiation from stars and planets, and of the pressure due to radiation. His literary work has been done mostly in connection with his editor- ship of the "Physical Reviev/." NICHOLSON, JOHN, an English mili- tary officer; born in Dublin, Ireland, Dec. 11, 1822. In 1838 he joined the East India Company's service. On the break- ing out of the Sikh war in 1845 he served in the campaign on the Sutlej. He was appointed assistant to the resident at the conquered capital, Lahore. During the Sikh rebellion of 1848 he greatly dis- tinguished himself. The Punjab having finally become a British province. Cap- tain Nicholson was appointed a deputy commissioner under the Lahore Board. His success in bringing the savage tribes under thorough subjection to law and order was marvelous. In the mutiny in 1857 he perhaps did more than any other man to hold firm the British grasp of the Punjab. As Brigadier-General, on Sept. 14 he led the first column of attack at the siege of Delhi, and after the troops had forced their way into the city he still exposed himself in the most fearless manner, and fell, shot through the body. Sept. 23, 1857. NICHOLSON, MEREDITH, American writer and novelist; bom at Crawfords- ville, Ind., 1866. Engaged in journalism, 1885-1897; a reporter and editor on In- dianapolis "News," 1899-1901, Treasurer Denver Coal Mining Company. Returned to Indianapolis and devoted himself to writing. Mr. Nicholson is a member of the National Institute of Arts and Let- ters and has received degrees from sev- eral colleges. He has published: "Short Flights" (verse, 1891); "The Hoosiers" (1900); "The Main Chance" (1903); "Zelda Dameron" (1904); "The House of a Thousand Candles" (1905) ; "Poems" (1906) ; "Port of Missing Men" (1907) ; "Rosalind at Red Gate" (1907) ; "Lords of High Decision" (1909) ; "Siege of the Seven Suitors" (1910); "A Hoosier Chronicle" (1912) ; "Otherwise Phyllis" (1913); "The Poet" (1914); "Valley of Democracy" (1918). NICHOLSON, THOMAS', Methodist Episcopal clergyman and educator, born at Woodbum, Ontario, 1862. Educated at Toronto and Northwestern University, graduating from Garrett Bible Institute in 1892. Ordained 1884. Professor of philosophy and Bible literature and prin- cipal Academy, Cornell College (Iowa), 1894-1903. President Dakota University, 1903-1908. Secretary Board of Educa- tion Methodist Church, 1908. Has pub- lished: "Epworth League Bible Studies" (1901-1902) ; "Epworth League Devo- tional Topic Book" (1902) ; "Necessity for the Christian College" (1904); "Studies in Christian Experience" (1907). NICHOLSON, WILLIAM GTJSTAVUS, British soldier; born in Leeds, 1845, died Id London, 1918; graduated from Wool- Vol. VI — Cyc — DD
