Catalogue description Letters received by James Nicholson (1718-1773)

James Nicholson was the third surviving child of Matthew Nicholson (1677-1735/36). He attended Stand Grammar School, c. 1729-173 and also briefly attended Caleb Rotherham's academy in Kendal in 1735. On his father's death he joined his elder brother, John, in the family busines. He took charge of this on John's death in 1741/42 and the merchandise on which he chiefly concentrated appears to have been linen, yarn, tallow, molasses and chemicals. He may also have had some interests in importing tobacco and cotton. He travelled quite extensively in England, Scotland and Ireland in order to promote his business. He was a partner in the Hurlett Copperas Works ("the first chemical works established in Scotland", see p. 40), founded in 1753 and was also interested in the Wigan Copperas Works.

James Nicholson was also active in public life in Liverpool (see references in index to H. Peet (ed.) Liverpool Vestry Books, 1681-1834, Vol. 1 and 2, 1912). Although a Dissenter according to p. 41 "in 1755 and 1756 he was a Commissioner under the Act for Enlightening and Cleansing the Streets of the Parish and at later dates he was a member of the Parish Committee and of the Workhouse Committee". He was sometime deputy Treasurer of the Liverpool Infirmary and was one of the original subscribers to the Liverpool Lyceum Library. He was "interested" in the establishment of the Octagon [Presbyterian] Chapel, Temple Court, opened in 1763 and according to p. 44 "one would [have] concluded that he was never an orthodox Calvinist and that he passed ... to Unitarianism". James Nicholson was also associated with the beginnings of the Warrington Academy.

Towards the end of his life he purchased Richmond Row, cottage property in Everton Brow, which he converted into one house. Like his father he lived in Dale Street for the greater part of his life but he died at Richmond Row in 1773.

See pp. 38-45.