William Nicholas (12 December 1785 – 14 April 1812) was an English officer and military engineer in the British Army, serving in the Royal Engineers. From 1806 to 1812, he was engaged in eleven sieges and battles across Italy, Egypt, and Spain, and died of wounds sustained at the Siege of Badajoz.
Early Life
William Nicholas was born at Ashton Keynes, near Cricklade, in Wiltshire, the third son of Robert Nicholas, Esquire (a Member of Parliament for Cricklade and chairman of the board of excise), and Charlotte, sixth daughter of Admiral Sir Thomas Frankland, Baronet. He was collaterally related to Sir Edward Nicholas, principal secretary of state to Charles I and Charles II, and on his mother's side was lineally descended from Oliver Cromwell.
He was educated at a private school at Hackney and was admitted as a cadet to the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, at the end of 1799, upon the nomination of the Marquess Cornwallis.
Military Career
Nicholas obtained a commission as second lieutenant in the Royal Engineers in 1801 and became first lieutenant on 1 July 1802. After completing instruction at Chatham, he was employed on the defences of Dover between 1801 and 1805.
Italy (1806)
In the spring of 1806, Nicholas was ordered to serve in the expedition to Sicily to oppose the French invasion of Naples. He was engaged at St. Euphemia and at the Battle of Maida, where he served as assistant quartermaster-general and narrowly avoided death when a cannon-ball carried away his boat-cloak. He took part in the capture of the fortress of Scylla in July 1806 and was promoted to second captain on 25 August 1806.
Egypt (1807)
Nicholas accompanied the expedition to Egypt in 1807. He served at the two actions at Rosetta, where he assisted in carrying the wounded General Robert Meade to safety. He also served at the defence of Alexandria.
Return to Italy (1808)
He was mentioned in despatches in February 1808 for his services in the defence of Scylla. He also served at the attack of Bagnara and conducted a tour of western Sicily, producing a report that was highly approved and established his reputation.
Spain (1809–1812)
In 1809, he was sent on a confidential mission to the Spanish army, joining General Joaquín Blake's army at Alcanitz in Aragon. He returned to England at the end of 1809 to recover his health.
In March 1810, he was ordered to Cádiz as the second engineer officer for the defence. Following the death of Major Charles Lefebure, he succeeded to command of the Engineers at Cádiz. He distinguished himself at the Battle of Barrosa in 1811 and was publicly thanked on the field by Sir Thomas Graham.
Death at Badajoz (1812)
On the night before the assault on Badajoz (6 April 1812), Nicholas volunteered to reconnoitre, stripping and crossing the artificial lake east of the city to ascertain the safest passage for the column. During the assault, he led multiple charges into the Santa Maria breach. He was wounded at least four times—by a musket-ball in his knee, a bayonet thrust in his leg, a broken left arm, and a musket-shot through the chest that broke two ribs. He was carried from the field and died eight days later on 14 April 1812, at age 26. He had been brevetted major, but did not live to learn of it.
Sir Thomas Graham wrote that "no soldier ever distinguished himself more" and that his "heroic conduct" could "never be forgotten."
Likenesses
A drawing of Nicholas was made at Cádiz in 1812 by Lieutenant B. Pymm, engraved by E. Scriven. A pen-and-ink drawing by Henry Bone (c. 1814, after Pymm's original) is held in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
