William Nicholson (Royal Navy officer)

Admiral Sir William Coldingham Masters Nicholson, KCB (28 October 1863 – 9 January 1932) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy.

Admiral Sir William Nicholson KCB
Rear-admiral William Coldingham Masters Nicholson by Francis Dodd
Born	28 October 1863
Died	9 January 1932 (1932-01-10) (aged 68)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy
Rank	Admiral
Commands	HMS Canada
Battles / wars	World War I
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath

Naval career

Nicholson was educated at Stubbington House School.^[1] Nicholson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 21 August 1885.^[2] A Commander in the Royal Navy, he was on 10 September 1902 appointed in command of the torpedo gunboat HMS Antelope, serving in home waters.^[3]

He served in World War I and, as Captain of HMS Canada, saw action at the Battle of Jutland in 1916.^[4] He went on to be Rear Admiral i.e. Second of Command of the 1st Battle Squadron later that year.^[5] He was appointed Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy in 1919^[6] and was given command of the 2nd Battle Squadron in October 1920.^[7] He then became Commander of the 1st Battle Squadron in May 1921.^[8]

He lived at Winchcombe in Gloucestershire.^[9]