Background
The son of the Review Iltyd Nicoll, he was born at Treddington, Worcestershire. His father was rector of the parish, and died before Nicoll was two years old. His mother was Ann, daughter of George Hatch of Windsor.
The son of the Review Iltyd Nicoll, he was born at Treddington, Worcestershire. His father was rector of the parish, and died before Nicoll was two years old. His mother was Ann, daughter of George Hatch of Windsor.
He was educated by the Review John Nicoll, his uncle, and placed in 1802 to live with John Bevan, a medical practitioner at Cowbridge, Glamorgan. On 17 March 1826 Nicoll graduated Doctor of Medicine
Known in his lifetime as a medical and theological writer, he was also responsible in his capacity as physician to Michael Faraday for the term "electrode", a fact not known until well into the 20th century. In 1806 Nicoll became a student at Street George"s Hospital, and in 1809 received the diploma of membership of the College of Surgeons of England. He then became partner of his former teacher Bevan at Cowbridge, and engaged in general practice.
He went to live in Ludlow, Shropshire, took an Doctor of Medicine degree 17 May 1816 at Marischal College, Aberdeen, and was admitted an extra-licentiate of the College of Physicians of London 8 June 1816.
He commenced physician, and eceived in 1817 the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the Archbishop of Canterbury. at Glasgow University, then moved to London, and was admitted a licentiate of the College of Physicians on 26 June 1826. Around 1834 when Michael Faraday was looking to introduce terminology for electrolysis, he took up suggestions of Nicoll and William Whewell.
In 1835 Nicoll gave up practice, and settled at Wimbledon, Surrey, where he died on 3 December 1838. Nicoll married:
in 1812, Margaret, daughter of Review
Robert Rickards, who died 1831;
in 1832, Charlotte, daughter of James Deacon Hume, who died of puerperal fever.
Royal Society]
He became a member of the Royal Irish Academy.