Career
Thomas Nicholls was probably born in Maryland to Cornish American Edward C. Nicholls and the former Williamina Hamilton. He received his law license in 1809, when he was eighteen years of age. In addition to the future governor, the couple had four children: Robert West., Edward F., Lawrence Doctorate., Thomas C., and Josephine Williamina, who married William West. Pugh.
Nicholls opened his law office in Opelousas, the seat of Saint Landry Parish.
He moved to New Orleans during the invasion of Louisiana by British forces, joined the Orleans Volunteers, and participated in the battles of December 23, 1814, and January 8, 1815, the latter commonly called the battle of New Orleans. After relocating to Donaldsonville, the seat of Ascension Parish south of Baton Rouge, Nicholls was appointed a Louisiana district judge in 1836.
In 1840, he wrote a memoir of his family"s journey from Maryland to the Atakapas country in south Louisiana. From 1843-1846, Nicholls was presiding judge of the court of errors and appeals.
A critic of the abuse of alcoholic beverages, Nicholls was the first president of the Louisiana State Temperance Association.