Background
The son of Michael Nicol, he was born on 28 September 1769 at Innerleithen, Peeblesshire, went to the parish school, and was originally destined to be a shoemaker.
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James Nicol
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He qualified at Edinburgh University for the ministry, and after acting as tutor in private families was licensed to preach by the presbytery of Peebles (25 March 1801). Nicol became assistant to John Walker, parish minister of Traquair, near Innerleithen (15 May 1802), and succeeded to the charge, on the death of the incumbent, on 4 November. A knowledge of medicine acquired at university enabled him to vaccinate parishioners.
In 1808 he founded the first friendly society at Innerleithen.
After a change in his religious views Nicol contemplated resigning his charge, but died, after a short illness, on 5 November 1819. In 1802 Nicol married Agnes, sister of his predecessor John Walker, whose virtues he had celebrated in verse.
She died on 19 March 1845.
