John Fearns Nicoll

Sir John Fearns Nicoll KCMG
Governor of Fiji Acting
In office 21 March 1947 – 8 October 1947
Monarch	George VI
Preceded by	Sir Alexander Grantham
Succeeded by	Sir Brian Freeston
In office 4 May 1944 – 23 October 1944
Monarch	George VI
Preceded by	Sir John Rankine (Acting)
Succeeded by	Sir John Rankine (Acting)
Acting High Commissioner for the Western Pacific
In office 21 March 1947 – 8 October 1947
Monarch	George VI
Preceded by	Sir Alexander Grantham
Succeeded by	Sir Brian Freeston
18th Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong
In office 1949–1952
Monarchs	George VI Elizabeth II
Preceded by	David Mercer MacDougall
Succeeded by	Sir Robert Black
3rd Governor of Singapore
In office 21 April 1952 – 2 June 1955
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Wilfred Lawson Blythe (Acting)
Succeeded by	Sir William Goode (Acting)
Personal details
Born	(1899-04-26)April 26, 1899
Died	12 January 1981(1981-01-12) (aged 81–82) Wimbledon Common, England
Spouse	Irene Nicoll
Children	1 son
Alma mater	Pembroke College, Oxford
Occupation	Colonial administrator

Sir John Fearns Nicoll, KCMG (1899–1981) was a British colonial governor. He was Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong from 1949 to 1952, and Governor of Singapore from 1952 to 1955.

Early years and colonial service

Nicoll was born in 1899 and attended Carlisle Grammar School and Pembroke College, Oxford before embarking on a colonial career in British Protectorate of North Borneo in 1921.

Nicoll became Deputy Colonial Secretary of the British Crown Colony Trinidad and Tobago in 1937, the Colonial Secretary of the British Colony of Fiji from 1944 to 1949. During this time, he served as Acting Governor twice, in 1944 and 1947. This was followed by his appointment as administrator and Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong in 1949.

Nicoll became Governor of Singapore in 1952 and was present during the 1954 National Service riots and left the Governorship the next year. Nicoll retired from the Colonial Service and returned to Britain.

Nicoll was invested as a Knight of the Order of St Michael and St George. He died at Scio House Hospital, Putney Heath.

Personal

Nicoll was married to Irene and had one son, Anthony Nicoll.

Legacy

Nicoll Highway was named in his honour and a portrait of Nicoll by Elliott & Fry hangs in the National Portrait Gallery.

External links

• Chua, Alvin (6 July 2009). "Sir John Fearns Nicoll". Singapore Infopedia. National Library Board Singapore. Retrieved 17 August 2010.