Nicholson, Charles

Born in Cockermouth, Cumberland, England.

Family: Father, Charles Nicholson (merchant and agent to Lord Egremont; Mother, Barbara Ascough (daughter of wealthy London merchant) (Dec 1811); Charles's only son; his mother died when he was three and he was sent to live with a maiden aunt in Yorkshire (his father died when he was seven and his aunt took sole care of him)

Married: 1865 Sarah Keightley (25-year-old daughter of a London solicitor) (Dec. 1923); (3 sons)

Education:
Private tutors (learned clergymen and young men from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge); at 17, Charles had a sound knowledge of History, Latin and Greek, and always maintained an interest in antiquities
1825 University of Edinburgh (medicine)
Graduated with a high distinction, second in his year
1833 Doctor of Medicine (thesis in Latin on asphyxiation, its causes and treatments)

Career:
Extraordinary member, Hunterian Medical Society of Edinburgh
9 October 1833 sailed for Sydney (arrived 1 May 1834) with his aunt, Miss Ascough, and his cousin, James Ascough to join his uncle, Captain James Ascough, a wealthy trader and shipowner with extensive land on the Hawkesbury River and Upper Hunter
Practiced as a physician - gained reputation as a skilled obstetrician
1836 When his uncle drowned, Nicholson inherited most of his property, and became, at 28, one of the wealthiest men in the colony
1836 a founder of the Australian Gaslight Co.
By 1840 was devoting his time to business affairs, buying land and stock, forming sheep stations
Also 1840s interest in establishing shipping and railway companies; member of the Medical Board
1842 active in the movement to encourage immigration from India
1843 Elected member of the new part-elective Legislative Council, representing Port Phillip
1844 Ludwig Leichhardt named a mountain after Nicholson
1846 active in the plan for a new Railway Company
1846 to 1856 Elected Speaker of the House
1849 to 1850 Joined Wentworth in pressing for the establishment of a University
By 1850 owned fine estate and mansion at Luddenham, near Sydney, as well as his residence, Tarmons, at Potts Point
Early 1850s Trustee of the Savings Bank and the Australian Museum
December 1850 to 1883 Fellow of first Senate of the University of Sydney
1851 to 1854 Vice-Provost of the University
1852 knighted
1854 befriended the pre-Raphaelite sculptor, Thomas Woolner, who cast a medallion of Nicholson which is held in the University of Sydney archives
1854 to 1862 Provost (later Chancellor) of the University
1855 Appointed to the interim Executive Council which governed until the first administration under responsible government took over
1855 to 1858 visited Egypt, collected antiquities, and went to England
1857 He secured for the University of Sydney considerable publicity and a Royal Charter (1857) giving its degrees equal status with those of the old British universities
1857 presented antiquities to the University's archaeological museum (which now bears his name)
1858 returned to Sydney; largely responsible for the acceptance of Edmund Blacket's design for the University; nominated as a member of the Legislative Council of the new colony of Queensland, and became President of the Council; while in Queensland acquire substantial land interests, especially in the Rockhampton district
1859 created a baronet
1862 Returned to England; acted as University's agent there, selecting staff, and periodically adding to the library
1865 married and settled on the estate of Hadleigh, Essex
1876 to 1901 lived at The Grange, Totteridge, near Barnet, Hertfordshire (it was destroyed by fire, along with Nicholson's journals and correspondence on 22 February 1899); Member, Royal Colonial Institute, Royal Society of Arts, British Association, and many other learned and cultural bodies
1860s and 1870s conducted excavations in the Channel Islands; associated with Petrie and Sayce
1880s took up study of Hebrew
1890 appointed to represent the interests of the Central Queensland League in London
Chairman, London, Liverpool and Globe Insurance Co.
Director, Peninsular and Orient Steamship Co.
One of the first London businessmen to have financial interests in Persia
Held honorary degrees from the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh
Has been described as Australia's first great collector
He was a generous patron of the arts and sciences

Publications:
Aegyptiaca, comprising a catalogue of Egyptian antiquities now deposited in the Museum of the University, 1891
Pamphlets on Australian resources and prospects