COLONIAL l'RI':SIDEXTS AXl) (iO\ 1-:RX0RS
55
onies lu.rth oi (."iKsajeakc lla\- were formed
into a single province under Sir I-~dniund An-
dros. Xicliolson. was ai)])i>inieil lieutenant-gov-
ernor, and remained at Xew \'ork to repre-
sent his superior otificer. When Andros was
deposed by the men oi lioston in 1689. Xichol-
son's h( t tamper betrayed him into violent
language and conduct, which induced a rebel-
lion headed by Jacob Leisler. Xicholstm left
the colony for ICngland. which temporarily in-
creased the anarchic conditions in Xew \'ork,
though they ended in the execution of Jacob
Leisler and several of liis rebel associates. In
-pite of his failure. Xicholson was appointed
lieutenant-governor of X'irginia in 1690, and
for four years discharged the duties of his
new office with ability and entire credit to
himself. He instituted athletic games and
offered prizes to those who should excel in
riding, running, shooting, wrestling and fen-
cing. He did all he could to i^romote the
founding of William andi Mary College, and
contributed largely from his own private means
for that purpose. In 1694 Lord Howard of
Effingham, the titular governor of \^irginia.
imder whom Nicholson served as deputy, died.
and that post was conferred upon Sir Edmund
.\ndros, while Xicholson was appointed in
January. 1694. governor of Maryland. Here
he proved himself, as in \'irginia. the patron
of learning, and laid out Annapolis and estab-
lished King William's school, now St. John's
College. His arrogant disposition precipitated
him into quarrels with the commissary Thomas
Rray and other leading men. and in 1698 he
returned to Virginia as governor. His second
term of office opened auspiciously. He caused
a general census of the colony to be made in
respect to schools, churches, and population,
and as the state house had been accidentally
burned at Jamestown, persuaded the English
government to transfer the seat of govern-
ment U) Middle Plantation, which he named
Williamsburg in honor of the reigning king,
William, formerly 1 'rince of Orange. lUit his
pepi)ery temper soon involved him into diffi-
culties with his council and with James Blair,
president of the college, lie also displeased
the assembly by trying to get them to con-
tribute towards a fort on the northwest fron-
tier of Xew York. Displeased in turn at their
unwillingness, he advised the crown that all
the American colonies should be placed under
one governor and a standing army be main-
tained among them at their own expense, be-
lieving it to be the only means of preserving
an cff'ective unity against Canada and the
Erench. I hit this recommendation was not
approved by Queen Ann and her ministers,
and in April. 1705. he was recalled. During
the next fifteen years such public services as
he discharged were of a military character,
and he headed two expeditions against Canada,
but for want of a fleet the expeditions proved
failures. In 1713 Nicholson was appointed
governor of Acadia, but here again he met
difficulties cnving to his imperious temper.
\Mien in 17 19 the privy council decided that
the proprietors of South Carolina had for-
feited their charter, Nicholson was appointed
governor, and speedily restored order to that
distracted province. Here Xicholson showed
the best side of his character, promoted the
building of schools and churches, and suc-
ceeded in conciliating the Cherokees. In June,
1725. Nicholson returned to England on leave,
and does not seem again to have visited
America. He had been knighted in 1720 and
was promoted to lieutenant-general. He
retained the colonial governorship of South
Carolina until his death, which took place in
London, Marcli 5. 1728. He never married
