John Fearns Nicoll
John Fearns Nicoll | |
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Acting Governor of Fiji | |
In office 4 May 1944 – 23 October 1944 | |
Monarch | George VI |
Preceded by | Sir John Rankine (Acting) |
Succeeded by | Sir John Rankine (Acting) |
In office 21 March 1947 – 8 October 1947 | |
Monarch | George VI |
Preceded by | Sir Alexander Grantham |
Succeeded by | Sir Brian Freeston |
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 25 May 1949 – 23 January 1952 | |
Monarchs | George VI Elizabeth II |
Preceded by | David Mercer MacDougall |
Succeeded by | Sir Robert Black |
2nd Governor of Singapore | |
In office 21 April 1952 – 2 June 1955 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Preceded by | Sir Franklin Charles Gimson Wilfred Lawson Blythe (Acting) |
Succeeded by | Sir William Goode (Acting) Sir Robert Black |
Personal details | |
Born | 26 April 1899 |
Died | 12 January 1981 Wimbledon Common, England, United Kingdom | (aged 81)
Nationality | British |
Spouse |
Irene Nicoll (m. 1939) |
Children | 1 son |
Alma mater | Pembroke College, Oxford University of Oxford |
Occupation | Colonial administrator |
Sir John Fearns Nicoll, KCMG KStJ (26 April 1899 – 12 January 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, Pembroke College, Oxford and University of Oxford and embarked on a colonial career in British Protectorate of North Borneo in 1921.[2]
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.[2]
Nicoll became Governor of Singapore in 1952[3] and was present during the 1954 National Service riots and left the Governorship the following year. Nicoll retired from the Colonial Service and returned to Britain.
Awards and honours
Nicoll was invested as Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1946 New Year Honours[4] and Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1953 New Year Honours.[5]
He was knighted with Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (KStJ) in 1952.[6]
Personal
Nicoll was married to Irene and had one son, Anthony Nicoll.
Nicoll died on 12 January 1981 at Scio House Hospital, Putney Heath, United Kingdom.[7]
Legacy
Nicoll Highway was named in his honour[8] and a portrait of Nicoll by Elliott & Fry hangs in the National Portrait Gallery.
References
- ^ "Nicoll, Sir John (Fearns)". ukwhoswho. 1 December 2007.
- ^ a b "John Fearns Nicoll". nlb.gov.sg.
- ^ "No. 39524". The London Gazette. 25 April 1952. p. 2240.
- ^ "No. 37407". The London Gazette. 28 December 1945. p. 9.
- ^ "No. 39732". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1952. p. 5.
- ^ "No. 39584". The London Gazette. 27 June 1952. p. 3520.
- ^ "No. 48503". The London Gazette. 23 January 1981. p. 1126.
- ^ "Nicoll built the road". The Straits Times. Singapore. 30 June 1956. p. 5. Retrieved 18 December 2019 – via NewspaperSG.
External links
- Chua, Alvin (6 July 2009). "Sir John Fearns Nicoll". Singapore Infopedia. National Library Board Singapore. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
- Governors of the Straits Settlements
- Administrators in British Singapore
- 1899 births
- 1981 deaths
- People educated at Carlisle Grammar School
- British Hong Kong
- British North Borneo
- Political office-holders in Trinidad and Tobago
- British expatriates in Fiji
- British expatriates in Trinidad and Tobago
- British Empire stubs
- Hong Kong government biography stubs
- British government biography stubs
- Singaporean people stubs
- Southeast Asian politician stubs