Author: Nicoll, James
Biography:
NICOLL, James (1769-1819: ODNB)
James Nichol or Nicoll was born at Innerleithen in the Scottish Borders on 30 Sept. 1769 to Michael Nichol and his wife Marion Hope. They had married at Innerleithen on 13 June 1765. He was educated at the parish school and Edinburgh University. He was licensed to preach by the presbytery at Peebles, Peebleshire, in Mar. 1801 and was appointed assistant to the Rev. John Walker, minister at Traquair. When Walker died in Nov. 1802, Nicholl succeeded him at Traquair. He married Agnes Walker (sister of John Walker) in Nov. 1802; they had six children and one, James (1810-79), was to become an eminent geologist. He died after a brief illness at the Traquair manse on 5 Nov. 1819 and was buried in the Traquair kirkyard. Nicholl's religious views had become increasingly unorthodox before his death. His Poems were admired in his lifetime although Charles Rogers noted their imitation of Burns. Nicholl also contributed verse to the Edinburgh Magazine. (ODNB 2 Sept. 2025; ancestry.co.uk 2 Sept. 2025) SR