Nicholas was born in a small thatched house near Trefgarn chapel, not far from Solva, Pembrokeshire. He was educated at Lancashire College, Manchester, and at Göttingen in Germany, where he took the degree of PhD. He became a Presbyterian minister, and served at Stroud, Gloucestershire and at Eignbrook, Herefordshire. In 1856, he was appointed professor of biblical literature and mental and moral science at the Presbyterian College at Carmarthen. In 1863 he settled in London, resigning his professorship, and thenceforth, with the aid of Sir Hugh Owen, Lord Aberdare, Archdeacon Griffiths, Rev. David Thomas (editor of the Homilist), and others, he promoted a scheme for the furtherance of higher education in Wales on non-sectarian principles, and became the secretary of the movement. He subsequently disagreed with others of the promoters, and had resigned from the committee before the scheme came to fruition. As a result of these efforts, the University College of Wales was founded in 1872, when a building at Aberystwyth was purchased. Nicholas is said to have secured promises of subscriptions amounting to £14,000. He was one of the governors and drew out a scheme of education. He had made a special study of the educational institutions of France and Germany. He died unmarried at 156 Cromwell Road, London, on 14 May 1879.
WritingsEdit
Besides pamphlets and other publications, Nicholas was the author of:
Middle and High Class Schools, and University Education for Wales, 1863, a work which exerted great influence on educated Welshmen.
Pedigree of the English People, 1868; 5th edit. 1878.
Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales, 1872, in 2 vols.
History and Antiquities of the County of Glamorgan and its Families, 1874.
He edited, with notes and a biographical sketch, Mathias Maurice's Social Religion Exemplify'd, 1860, 8vo.
In late 1878, he revised the English edition of Baedeker's London as it passed through the press.
He projected a History of Wales, which he did not live to complete.
NotesEdit
^The 1894 DNB gives his birth year as 1820. The DWB gives it as 1816. It is more recent and is more precise, and therefore seems more likely to be right.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Jenkins, John Austin (1894). "Nicholas, Thomas (1820-1879)" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 40. London: Smith, Elder & Co. p. 433.
October 20, 2023
thomas, nicholas, antiquary, thomas, nicholas, february, 1816, note, 1879, welsh, antiquary, educator, thomas, nicholasborn, 1816, february, 1816trefgarn, pembrokeshiredied14, 1879, 1879, aged, londonburial, placehammersmith, cemetery51, 48889, 21536, 48889, 2. Thomas Nicholas 17 February 1816 Note 1 14 May 1879 was a Welsh antiquary and educator 1 2 Thomas NicholasBorn 1816 02 17 17 February 1816Trefgarn PembrokeshireDied14 May 1879 1879 05 14 aged 63 LondonBurial placeHammersmith Cemetery51 29 20 N 0 12 55 W 51 48889 N 0 21536 W 51 48889 0 21536NationalityWelshOccupation s Antiquary and educator Contents 1 Biography 2 Writings 3 Notes 4 ReferencesBiography EditNicholas was born in a small thatched house near Trefgarn chapel not far from Solva Pembrokeshire He was educated at Lancashire College Manchester and at Gottingen in Germany where he took the degree of PhD He became a Presbyterian minister and served at Stroud Gloucestershire and at Eignbrook Herefordshire In 1856 he was appointed professor of biblical literature and mental and moral science at the Presbyterian College at Carmarthen In 1863 he settled in London resigning his professorship and thenceforth with the aid of Sir Hugh Owen Lord Aberdare Archdeacon Griffiths Rev David Thomas editor of the Homilist and others he promoted a scheme for the furtherance of higher education in Wales on non sectarian principles and became the secretary of the movement He subsequently disagreed with others of the promoters and had resigned from the committee before the scheme came to fruition As a result of these efforts the University College of Wales was founded in 1872 when a building at Aberystwyth was purchased Nicholas is said to have secured promises of subscriptions amounting to 14 000 He was one of the governors and drew out a scheme of education He had made a special study of the educational institutions of France and Germany He died unmarried at 156 Cromwell Road London on 14 May 1879 Writings EditBesides pamphlets and other publications Nicholas was the author of Middle and High Class Schools and University Education for Wales 1863 a work which exerted great influence on educated Welshmen Pedigree of the English People 1868 5th edit 1878 Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales 1872 in 2 vols History and Antiquities of the County of Glamorgan and its Families 1874 He edited with notes and a biographical sketch Mathias Maurice s Social Religion Exemplify d 1860 8vo In late 1878 he revised the English edition of Baedeker s London as it passed through the press He projected a History of Wales which he did not live to complete Notes Edit The 1894 DNB gives his birth year as 1820 The DWB gives it as 1816 It is more recent and is more precise and therefore seems more likely to be right References Edit Jenkins John Austin 1894 Nicholas Thomas 1820 1879 In Lee Sidney ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 40 London Smith Elder amp Co p 433 Davies William Llewelyn 1959 Nicholas Thomas 1816 1879 Dictionary of Welsh Biography Retrieved 4 September 2017 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Jenkins John Austin 1894 Nicholas Thomas 1820 1879 In Lee Sidney ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 40 London Smith Elder amp Co p 433 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Nicholas antiquary amp oldid 1007867299, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
