Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Nicholson, Joshua
NICHOLSON, JOSHUA (1812–1885), silk manufacturer and philanthropist, son of Joshua and Rachel Nicholson, was born on 26 Oct. 1812 at Luddenden Foot, near Halifax. He exhibited remarkable business aptitude during his apprenticeship to a draper at Bradford, and quickly filled a responsible position. From his earliest years he devoted much time to study. After leaving Bradford he resided for a short time in Huddersfield, and thence passed to Leek, Staffordshire, in 1837. For many years he travelled over the United Kingdom in the interests of the celebrated silk manufacturing firm, J. & J. Brough & Co., of Leek. He was soon indispensable to his employers; he was admitted to a partnership; the title was changed to J. & J. Brough, Nicholson & Co., and Nicholson ultimately became its head. He had worked up the business into the most important house in the trade.
Nicholson was a nonconformist from principle, and an earnest supporter of the independent or congregational churches. In politics he was a progressive radical, and for many years was president of the North Staffordshire Liberal Association. He believed in the efficacy of education, and in 1881 he announced his intention of building at Leek an institute, which was to include a free library, reading-rooms, art galleries, museum, and lecture-rooms and an art school, to be as nearly free as possible. The Nicholson Institute was completed in 1884 at a cost of 20,000l., and was opened in that year. In 1887 the town of Leek took it over in part under the Free Libraries Act, but Nicholson's family continued the endowment for ten years. The library contains eight thousand volumes, and 350 students attend the schools of art, science, and technology. Nicholson died on 24 Aug. 1885.
[Leek Times, 19 Nov. 1881; Staffordshire Weekly Sentinel, 16 Sept. 1882; Leek Times, 18 Oct. 1884; Staffordshire Advertiser, 18 Oct. 1884; Leek Times, 29 Aug. 1885; Leek Post, 10 Oct. 1891.]