John Nicholas was born in 1756 in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. He was a brother to George, Wilson Cary, and Philip Norborne Nicholas, and son of Robert Carter and Anne (Cary) Nicholas, was born in Williamsburg, Virginia. Almost nothing is known of his early life, but being the second son of the Treasurer of the Colony, he doubtless received every advantage that the little provincial capital afforded.
Nicholas attended the College of William and Mary. He studied law.
John's career was interrupted by the outbreak of the Revolution, which occasioned the removal of his family to the comparative safety of an estate in Hanover County. Though at some time during his career John lost the use of one of his eyes, he appears to have taken no part in military operations.
In 1781, on the death of his father, his family removed from Hanover to Albemarle County. It is not clear that John followed them to their new home, for we presently find him located in Stafford County.
In 1793 he was elected to the Federal House of Representatives and, being thrice reelected, served until 1801.
Nicholas appears to have suffered financially as a consequence of his public service, and in 1799 desired to give up his seat in Congress but consented to serve another term in the interest of the Republican cause. It was presumably due to this economic situation that he finally retired from public life in 1801 and two years later removed to Geneva, Ontario County, New York. In his new home he engaged in agricultural pursuits and in 1806 was elected to the state senate, which place he held until 1809. From 1806 until 1819 he acted as judge of the court of common pleas of Ontario County.
Nicholas was a devout member of the Episcopal Church.
Nicholas came to be recognized as one of the leading supporters of the Republican cause on the floor of the House.
Nicholas was effective in debate.
Nicholas married Anne Lawson, daughter of Gavin Lawson, by whom he had eleven children.
