Wilson Cary Nicholas (1761-1820) was an American politician who served in the U.S. Senate from 1799 to 1804 and was the Governor of Virginia from 1814 to 1816. Nicholas was born in Williamsburg, Virginia, January 31, 1761. He attended the College of William and Mary. Nicholas served in the Revolutionary Army and commanded George Washington’s Life Guard until it disbanded in 1783. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates 1784-1789 and a delegate to the State constitutional convention which ratified the Federal Constitution in 1788. Nicholas was again a member of State house of delegates 1794-1800. Nicholas was elected as a Democratic Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Henry Tazewell and served from December 5, 1799, until May 22, 1804, when he resigned to become collector of the port of Norfolk 1804-1807. He was elected to the Tenth and Eleventh Congresses and served from March 4, 1807, until his resignation November 27, 1809. Nicholas was chosen to be Governor of Virginia and served in that position 1814-1817. He died at “Tufton,” near Charlottesville, Virginia, October 10, 1820; interment in the Jefferson burying ground at "Monticello,” near Charlottesville.
This article incorporates facts obtained from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
