Lewis Nicola

editor merchant military public official Soldier

1717 (age 90)

France

Lewis had twenty-six years' experience as a military officer before migrating from Dublin to Philadelphia in or after 1766. A Ludwick Nichola, who lived in Berks County and was naturalized in Philadelphia November 18, 1769, seems to be an earlier arrival. He may have practised surveying in his new homeland; it is certain that he set up as a wholesale and retail merchant in Philadelphia, maintained a circulating library, and edited The American Magazine, or General Repository, all before 1770. His magazine (nine numbers published, January-September 1769), "the least unsuccessful" of several similar attempts in the Colonies, 1760-74, sought to promote public progress as well as to entertain and instruct its readers. In 1774 he was appointed a justice in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, where he had established a home for his wife and daughters. During the Revolutionary War Nicola frequently displayed his aptitude for framing ingenious projects for public service. He published three military manuals for American use, A Treatise of Military Exercise (1776), and two translations from the French, L'Ingénieur de Campagne: or Field Engineer (1776), and A Treatise, on the Military Service, of Light Horse and Light Infantry (1777). Early in 1776 he was appointed barrack master of Philadelphia, and from December of that year to February 1782 was town major, commanding the "home guards. " Doubtless irked by Benedict Arnold's misrule in Philadelphia following the British evacuation, Nicola (May 1780) proposed the appointment of a military governor for the city, recommending himself for the post. The plan was not adopted but meanwhile Nicola had been appointed (June 1777) colonel of the invalid regiment recently established by Congress. With his utilization of invalid veterans, incapacitated for field service, Nicola combined the systematic instruction of fresh recruits. From the summer of 1781 to the spring or summer of 1783 Nicola was at the main cantonment of the Continental Army, on the Hudson, and here, in May 1782, wrote the most famous of his proposals, suggesting to Washington that a change of government to monarchical institutions was in order and recommending that Washington become king, perhaps with a title modified to allay popular prejudice against monarchy. Due to the breaking down of government under the Congress of the Confederation similar sentiments were held by numerous persons, but Nicola was not their spokesman. Washington's reply, a stern rebuke, called forth agitated yet dignified apologies from Nicola. Nicola has been severely criticized for his monarchical propositions; however, they were kept secret at the time and subsequently (November 1783) he was brevetted brigadier-general, and from time to time was entrusted with positions of responsibility in Philadelphia. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati, and was elected to its standing committee in 1784 but did not complete his term, it being announced (March 1785) that he had "removed to a distant part of the state, " probably to Northumberland County where he held property. By 1788 he was again in Philadelphia, was made commandant of the Invalid Corps, and till 1793 served as keeper of Philadelphia's "model" workhouse. Subsequently he was brigade inspector of the Philadelphia militia (his name now appearing officially as Nicolas) and maintained, it is said, a broker's shop.

Lewis Nicola

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editor merchant military public official Soldier

Background

Louis Nicola was born in France in 1717.

Education

Lewis was educated in Ireland.

Career

Lewis had twenty-six years' experience as a military officer before migrating from Dublin to Philadelphia in or after 1766.

A Ludwick Nichola, who lived in Berks County and was naturalized in Philadelphia November 18, 1769, seems to be an earlier arrival. He may have practised surveying in his new homeland; it is certain that he set up as a wholesale and retail merchant in Philadelphia, maintained a circulating library, and edited The American Magazine, or General Repository, all before 1770. His magazine (nine numbers published, January-September 1769), "the least unsuccessful" of several similar attempts in the Colonies, 1760-74, sought to promote public progress as well as to entertain and instruct its readers.

In 1774 he was appointed a justice in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, where he had established a home for his wife and daughters.

During the Revolutionary War Nicola frequently displayed his aptitude for framing ingenious projects for public service. He published three military manuals for American use, A Treatise of Military Exercise (1776), and two translations from the French, L'Ingénieur de Campagne: or Field Engineer (1776), and A Treatise, on the Military Service, of Light Horse and Light Infantry (1777).

Early in 1776 he was appointed barrack master of Philadelphia, and from December of that year to February 1782 was town major, commanding the "home guards. "

Doubtless irked by Benedict Arnold's misrule in Philadelphia following the British evacuation, Nicola (May 1780) proposed the appointment of a military governor for the city, recommending himself for the post. The plan was not adopted but meanwhile Nicola had been appointed (June 1777) colonel of the invalid regiment recently established by Congress. With his utilization of invalid veterans, incapacitated for field service, Nicola combined the systematic instruction of fresh recruits. From the summer of 1781 to the spring or summer of 1783 Nicola was at the main cantonment of the Continental Army, on the Hudson, and here, in May 1782, wrote the most famous of his proposals, suggesting to Washington that a change of government to monarchical institutions was in order and recommending that Washington become king, perhaps with a title modified to allay popular prejudice against monarchy. Due to the breaking down of government under the Congress of the Confederation similar sentiments were held by numerous persons, but Nicola was not their spokesman. Washington's reply, a stern rebuke, called forth agitated yet dignified apologies from Nicola. Nicola has been severely criticized for his monarchical propositions; however, they were kept secret at the time and subsequently (November 1783) he was brevetted brigadier-general, and from time to time was entrusted with positions of responsibility in Philadelphia.

He was a member of the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati, and was elected to its standing committee in 1784 but did not complete his term, it being announced (March 1785) that he had "removed to a distant part of the state, " probably to Northumberland County where he held property.

By 1788 he was again in Philadelphia, was made commandant of the Invalid Corps, and till 1793 served as keeper of Philadelphia's "model" workhouse. Subsequently he was brigade inspector of the Philadelphia militia (his name now appearing officially as Nicolas) and maintained, it is said, a broker's shop.

Achievements

Elected to membership in one of Philadelphia's two scientific organizations (1768), Nicola was a negotiator of the merger (1769) by which the American Philosophical Society was formed, repeatedly served as one of the Society's curators, published the Transactions as a supplement to his magazine, and gave special emphasis to scientific news and articles. He made an historically valuable map showing the effects of the British occupation of Philadelphia in 1777-78.

Views

Nicola frankly regarded public appointments as a means of livelihood where "private advantage" should "coincide with the public utility. " He discharged his public trusts with much diligence.

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Lewis Nicola

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