Naval officer; born in
Chestertown, Md., in 1737: went to sea early, and was at the capture of
Havana
[
467]
by the
English in 1762; entered the
Continental navy in 1775, and in March, 1776, was in command of the
Defence, with which he recaptured several vessels which the
British had taken.
In January, 1777, he succeeded
Esek Hopkins as senior commander in the navy.
He served a short time in the army, when he could not get to sea, and was in the
battle at Trenton.
On June 9, 1780, in command of the
Trumbull, he had a severe action with the
Wyatt, losing thirty men, with no decisive results.
Off the Capes of the
Delaware, in August, 1781, his vessel was dismantled by two British cruisers, and he was compelled to surrender.
After the war
Captain Nicholson resided in New.
York, where he died Sept. 2, 1804.
