George Gibb Nicholson

#260, (20 September 1875-22 December 1948)
FatherDonald Nicholson (6 Jun 1834-24 May 1924)
MotherEuphemia Scott Gibb (c 1839-25 May 1915)
ChartsNicholson Family 2 - descendants
Descendents of Donald Nicholson
Last Edited6 Mar 2023
WikiTree ID:https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Nicholson-10598.
     NOTE: The information on this page is my research to date and is subject to change as I become better informed. I very much welcome any corrections or additional info you might have - my email address is at the bottom of this page. Whilst historical facts are not copyright, my writing about these facts are. If you wish to use any text from this site on Ancestry or on any other website, please ask me first - Tim Hill.
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(For a brief history and context on the Nicholson family see this page)

George Gibb Nicholson was likely born on 20 September 1875 at Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester.1 He was the son of Donald Nicholson and Euphemia Scott Gibb. George Gibb Nicholson was baptised at Congregational church in October 1875 at Moss Side, Manchester.1 He presumably lived with his parents at Plumley, Cheshire, in June 1878.2 He presumably lived with his parents at Lower Peover, Cheshire, in December 1879.3

He was recorded as living with his parents, a servant and his siblings Donald, Charles, Angus and Lily in the 1881 census at Plumley Moor, Plumley, Cheshire. He was recorded as being 5 years old. Donald was actually his step-brother, the son of his father and his father's first wife.4 His occupation was recorded as being a scholar in the census.4

At the age of 8 George emigrated from Glasgow on 3 November 1883 on the 'Loch Katrine' with his parents and three siblings. The ship was described as a 'Magnificent Iron Clipper Ship', and the Nicholsons travelled as second class passengers.5,6,7 George arrived at Melbourne on 4 February 1884. The voyage took a long 89 days. It is reported that the ship was popular, and the passengers had an agreeable time at sea.5,8,6


The Nicholsons were granted 90 acres of land at Tasmania on April 1884.9 He was a student at He was educated at Launceston Training College, an educational establishment run by his mother..10

It was reported on Tuesday, 21 December 1886 that the Olive House Seminary finished its examinations for the year, showing strong improvements on the year before. The school had built a new building during the year allowing double the number of students; Euphemia and Lily were aknowledged by the students, and Lily was mentioned several times for academic acheivments. Evidently males were now allowed at the Seminary, as George received a first class award for bible studies, geography, grammar and composition, English history, Roman history, arithmetic, dictation, drawing.11

Lily was recognised for academic acheivement in bible knowledge, English, grammar, geography, arithmetic, composition and dictation, French, drawing, pianoforte, whilst Charles, Angus and George attended the evening school.12

In the end of year awards in December 1888 at Olive House Seminary, Charles Leigh Clare, Angus, George and Lily featured highly amongst the award winners.13 George was evidently employed by the Launceston Town Hall in his youth.14

On the evening of Thursday, 26 June 1890, the Launceston Training College hosted a reunion at Milton Hall in Fredrick Street, in Launceston, Tasmania. It was estimated that more that 400 people attended. George and Lily performed a violin and piano duet of "Old's new gavotte"; Lily also performed in a number of other acts.15

The students of Launceston Training College gave a concert in aid of their prize fund on Tuesday, 2 September 1890 at Launceston, Tasmania, where "[t]here was a good attendance, and the songs, duets, recitations, and choruses were well received". Lily "who possesses a remarkably sympathetic and cultivated voice, in one so young, which, if not prematurely forced, should in time bring her to the front as a vocalist" sang 'The Better Land' and 'My Mother Binds My Hair' George also took part in the programme with a violin solo.16,17

Charles, George and Lily were awarded honours in the junior class of the Trinity College London musical knowledge examination in March 1891.18,19,20

The Launceston Training College had its annual exhibition on Thursday, 17 December 1891 in Y.M.C.A Hall Brisbane Street, in Launceston, Tasmania. It was so well attended that some were not able to be admitted. Lady Hamilton, the wife of the Governor, was received by Euphemia and Donald. Charles, George and Lily played the violin to acclaim, and George sang "Sion". In the prizes awarded, Lily was seen as the most improved, and also won a special writing prize. Lady Hamilton spoke enthusiastically about what she had seen on her visit, especially the good feeling that existed between the students and teachers, and presented Euphemia with a number of volumes from her Scripture class.21,22,23

Charles, George and Lily attended the school run by their mother. Even at that age, George got a higher score for French than his older brother - but Charles acheived first place for his Trinity College London Examination in Musical Theory, ahead of his sister.24,25
George Gibb Nicholson c.1895
(source: B. L. Nicholson)


At his matriculation in 1896 he was awarded the Lithgow Scholarship for modern languages.26 George received a degree as a student at Sydney University at Sydney on 1899.10,27

George was mentioned for academic achievement: on 2 May 1899:
At the recent Sydney University examinations, George Nicholson, son of Mr. Donald Nicholson, of this city, took the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He took the University medal, Professor Anderson's prize, and first-class honours in logic and mental philosophy, first-class honours in English, French, and German, Professor McCallum's prize for English, and the law studentship of £50 a year for three years. He was equal with the man who obtained the travelling scholarship of £150 for three years, the scholarship being given to the elder man because he was too old to compete again. Young Nicholson was at one time employed at the Town-hall here, and since going to the Sydney University has, by hard work and perseverance, gained £320 in money prizes alone.

His parents must have been very proud.28 George received a degree as a at Balliol college at Oxford on 1902.10,27

George on Monday, 13 October 1902 he was mentioned in the newspaper on 13 October 1902:
A Tasmanian's Success at Oxford j University. -.Word has just come to hand of the brilliant success of a young Tasmanian-Mr. George G. Nicholson at Oxford University. Mr. Nicholson received his early education at the Launceston Training College; from there he passed to the University of Sydney, where he took first-class honours all through his course, and in his final examination for the B.A. degree, he secured the valuable and much coveted James King, of Irrawang, Scholarship. On this scholarship, Mr. Nicholson went up to Oxford, and entered Baliol College in Easter Term, 1900. At Oxford, Mr. Nicholson surpassed the expectations of his friends in Sydney. In two years, half the usual time, he took the B.C.L. degree .-the stiffest law examination known with the highest honours of his year. Mr. Nicholson is the first, and so far the only Colonial who has secured this difficult law degree, and the fact of his having done so with the highest honours of his college, and in so marvellously short a time, makes a record to be proud of, and is a precedent for future Colonials in the same field of scholarship. Mr. Nicholson is at present reading for a diploma at the University of Paris.29

Whilst studying in England he spent vacations in France, including a tour of Brittany on bicycle, where he acquired a mastery of spoken French.10 He also attended lectures at the Sorbonne/.10

George Gibb Nicholson was appointed as lecturer in German and French to the University of Sydney on 11 November 1903.30 He also taught philosophy at St Andrew's College at the University of Sydney, in, in 1904 and 1905.10

He married Marguerite Marie Danuser, in 1905.27 George lived in 1907 at at Woolwich Road in the Sydney suburb of Hunters Hill.31

In 1909 he published Introduction to French Phonetics which became a standard textbook.10 The Nicholson family posed for a photograph c1910.
The Nicholson family posed for a photograph c1910 (George Gibb Nicholson, Marguerite Danuser, Hubert Nicholson, Lily Euphemia Eveline Nicholson, Marguerite Nicholson, Euphemia Scott Gibb, Donald Nicholson, Charles Leigh Clare Nicholson, Lousie Augusta Fooks)
(source: B. L. Nicholson)
He was assistant professor in 1913 at University of Sydney, in Sydney. He was was assistant then district censor between 1914 and 1919 at Sydney.10

His mother died 1915. He was executor of his mother's will in March 1916.32 George and Marguerite (and presumably his spouse Marguerite) lived in 1919 at at Gladstone Avenue in the Sydney suburb of Hunters Hill.3334
George Gibb Nicholson c.1920
Source: Su Nicholson (his grand-daughter)


He was appointed C.B.E.10 George received a degree as a Master of Arts on 1920.10

In 1921 he was appointed to the McCaughey chair of French at the Sydney. he also published his first scholarly book Recherches Philologiques Romanes, published in Paris.10 George provided information on the death of his father Donald Nicholson, on 24 May 1924, at at Mount Street in the Sydney suburb of Hunters Hill at age 48.35 George lived in 1926 at Hunters Hill.36

In 1934 the French government appointed him chevalier of the Légion d'honneur.10

He was seen as a man of many contradictions.:
... Nicholson left an ambivalent academic and educational legacy. The holder of the first modern language chair in an Australian university, he raised the study of languages to a level of rigour and professionalism unheard of before him. His austere vision was reflected both in his personal demeanour and his educational philosophy. Shy, reserved, distant, forbidding and totally uncompromising, he was known among students as 'Old Nick', 'Gee-Gee' and the 'polite executioner' (his courtesy and indeed his kindness having never been questioned). Nicholson was frequently on a collision course with the Department of Public Instruction as well as the university's administration, and in the second half of his tenure of the chair increasingly withdrew from university politics and life.37



However:
Those close to Nicholson, however, like his former student and counterpart at the University of Melbourne, A. R. Chisholm, learned to appreciate his undisputed integrity and sense of humour, and held him in deep affection as 'a great, simple, upright, modest man'. From 1908 'and for many years afterwards' Chisholm recalled that Nicholson 'looked about forty; he was dark, lean, ascetic in appearance. He wore dark-rimmed pince-nez that added to a general impression of severity'.38

In 1936 he published his second major book, Un Nouveau Principe d'étymologie Romane.10 George and Marguerite (and presumably his spouse Marguerite) lived at at 8 Mount Street in the Sydney suburb of Hunters Hill. They were living there in the 1940's.34
G G Nicholson (3rd from Right) with Le Delegue du Comite National Francais en Australia - Chevalier de la Legion d' Honneur (c.1943) with Ivan Barko
Source: Su Nicholson
George Gibb Nicholson retired in 1945.10

George died on 22 December 1948 at the Sydney suburb of Hunters Hill at age 73.27 His body was cremated at Northern Suburbs crematorium on 24 December 1948 at the Sydney suburb of Chatswood. Donald probated an amount of £1,627 from his deceasd wife's estate to his son George.39

Timeline

DateEventPlace
Family
Family
1875Birth-LikelyChorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester1
1875BaptismCongregational church, Moss Side, Manchester1
1881Occupation4
Education10
Employment14
1896Note memo only CR CR26
1899DegreeSydney10,27
1899Quotation type 128
1902DegreeOxford10,27
1902Quotation type 129
Note memo only10
Note memo only10
1903Note CR CR30
Note memo onlySt Andrew's College at the University of Sydney, in10
1905Marriage27
1907Residence at Woolwich Road in the Sydney suburb of Hunters Hill31
1909Note memo only CR CR10
1913OccupationUniversity of Sydney, in Sydney
1914-1919OccupationSydney10
1916Note32
1919Residence at Gladstone Avenue in the Sydney suburb of Hunters Hill33
1920Note memo only CR CR10
1920Degree10
1921Note memo only CR CRSydney10
1926Residence at Mount Street in the Sydney suburb of Hunters Hill36
1934Note memo only CR CR10
Quotation type 337
Quotation type 338
1936Note memo only10
Residence at 8 Mount Street in the Sydney suburb of Hunters Hill
1945Retirement10
1948Deaththe Sydney suburb of Hunters Hill27
1948Cremation at Northern Suburbs crematorium in the Sydney suburb of Chatswood
Note memo only39

Family

Marguerite Marie Danuser (1874-Jan 1961)
Children

Citations

  1. [S463] Family Search (A service provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) (https://familysearch.org) Church records for Chorlton Road Congregational Church, Old Trafford, 1858-1884, Film 2355751 (This record was not able to be located through Familysearch.org. However, Lancashire Online Parish Clerks (http://www.lan-opc.org.uk) indicate that this record should be in Baptisms 1861 - 1884, Page 13 (LDS Film 2355751)).
  2. [S831] The Cheshire Observer, Chester, Cheshire, England, Saturday 22 June 1878 p.5.
  3. [S1167] Cheshire, England, Parish Registers, 1538-1909 (www.ancestry.com) Name: Jane Nicholson; Gender: Female; Record Type: Christening (Baptism); Baptism Date: 18 Dec 1879; Baptism Place: Lower Peover, Cheshire, England; Residence Place: Lower Peover, Cheshire, England; Father: Donald Nicholson; Mother:Euphemia Nicholson.
  4. [S393] National Census for England, 1881 (online image) Registration district: Altrincham, Sub-registration district: Knutsford, Piece: 3511, Folio: 35, Page Number: 11 (http://search.ancestry.com.au/Browse/View.aspx).
  5. [S338] Ancestry.com.au Ancestry.com, (http://www.ancestry.com.au/) Series: VPRS 7666; Series Title: Inward Overseas Passenger Lists (British Ports) [Microfiche Copy of VPRS 947].
  6. [S27] Carroll Nicholson, Some relatives of Carroll and Nancy Nicholson (Kingprint of Richmond, Eng.), p.21.
  7. [S607] Land Applications and Warrants, 1868-1887 Nominal Register of Land Order Warrants Issued by the Emigrant and Colonists' Aid Corporation and Other, with Details of Native Country, Age, Date of Issue and Amount, and Acreage.; Film: SLTX/AO/EP/243; Series: CB7/25 Issued under 7th Section No.544 LCB No.102 (http://search.ancestry.com.au/Browse/View.aspx).
  8. [S336] The Argus, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1884 'BLUFF HAUBOUR.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956), 5 February, p. 4, viewed 7 April, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11843898
  9. [S607] Land Applications and Warrants, 1868-1887 Nominal Register of Land Order Warrants Issued by the Emigrant and Colonists' Aid Corporation and Other, with Details of Native Country, Age, Date of Issue and Amount, and Acreage.; Film: SLTX/AO/EP/243; Series: CB7/25Issued under 7th Section No.544 LCB No.102 (http://search.ancestry.com.au/Browse/View.aspx).
  10. [S345] Australian Dictionary of Biography Online (http://adb.anu.edu.au/) Nicholson, George Gibb (1875–1948) http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/nicholson-george-gibb-7845
  11. [S565] The Launceston Examiner, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, 1886 'OLIVE HOUSE SEMINARY.', Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899), 21 December, p. 3. , viewed 26 Jun 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39524825
  12. [S1185] The Daily Telegraph (Launceston), Launceston, Tasmaia, Australia, 1887 'CHRISTMAS EXAMINATIONS.', Daily Telegraph (Launceston, Tas. : 1883 - 1928), 19 December, p. 3. , viewed 26 Jun 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article149540574
  13. [S565] The Launceston Examiner, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, 1888 'CHRISTMAS EXAMINATIONS.', Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899), 25 December, p. 3. , viewed 26 Jun 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38325597
  14. [S1185] The Daily Telegraph (Launceston), Launceston, Tasmaia, Australia, 1900 'No title', Daily Telegraph (Launceston, Tas. : 1883 - 1928), 5 May, p. 4. , viewed 05 Mar 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article153631814
  15. [S565] The Launceston Examiner, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, 1890 'CURRENT TOPICS.', Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899), 27 June, p. 2. , viewed 24 Jun 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39550980
  16. [S1185] The Daily Telegraph (Launceston), Launceston, Tasmaia, Australia, 1890 'No title', Daily Telegraph (Launceston, Tas. : 1883 - 1928), 3 September, p. 2. , viewed 24 Jun 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article150344745
  17. [S565] The Launceston Examiner, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, 1890 'CURRENT TOPICS.', Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899), 3 September, p. 2. , viewed 24 Jun 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39554869
  18. [S565] The Launceston Examiner, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, 1891 'CURRENT TOPICS.', Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899), 9 March, p. 2. , viewed 23 Jun 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39564961
  19. [S1184] The Tasmanian, Launceston, Tasmaia, Australia, 1891 'Local & General', The Tasmanian (Launceston, Tas. : 1881 - 1895), 14 March, p. 24. , viewed 24 Jun 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199557564
  20. [S615] The Colonist, Sydney, NSW, 1891 'Trinity College, London.', The Colonist (Launceston, Tas. : 1888 - 1891), 14 March, p. 24. , viewed 26 Jun 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201181278
  21. [S1185] The Daily Telegraph (Launceston), Launceston, Tasmaia, Australia, 1892 'LAUNCESTON TRAINING COLLEGE.', Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899), 21 December, p. 3. , viewed 21 Jun 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39480766
  22. [S565] The Launceston Examiner, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, 1891 'CHRISTMAS EXAMINATIONS.', Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899), 18 December, p. 3. , viewed 21 Jun 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39584348
  23. [S1184] The Tasmanian, Launceston, Tasmaia, Australia, 1891 'CHRISTMAS EXAMINATIONS.', The Tasmanian (Launceston, Tas. : 1881 - 1895), 19 December, p. 26. , viewed 26 Jun 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199540091
  24. [S565] The Launceston Examiner, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, 1892 'LAUNCESTON TRAINING COLLEGE.', Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899), 21 December, p. 3. , viewed 21 Jun 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39480766
  25. [S1184] The Tasmanian, Launceston, Tasmaia, Australia, 1892 'Launceston Training College', The Tasmanian (Launceston, Tas. : 1881 - 1895), 24 December, p. 21. , viewed 26 Jun 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article200317585
  26. [S566] The Examiner, Launceston, Tasmania, 1902 'SUCCESS OF A COLONIAL AT OXFORD.', Examiner (Launceston, Tas. : 1900 - 1954), 11 October, p. 7. (DAILY.), viewed 06 Mar 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article86303958
  27. [S27] Carroll Nicholson, Some relatives of Carroll and Nancy Nicholson (Kingprint of Richmond, Eng.), p.22.
  28. [S572] The Mercury (Hobart), Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 1899 'LAUNCESTON.', The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), 2 May, p. 4, viewed 16 March, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9447109
  29. [S572] The Mercury (Hobart), Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 1902 'The Mercury.', The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), 13 October, p. 5. , viewed 24 Jun 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9589467
  30. [S572] The Mercury (Hobart), Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 1903 'LAUNCESTON.', The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), 12 November, p. 5, viewed 16 March, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12264255
  31. [S31] Sand's Directory,NSW, Australia (various dates), 1907 p. 1099.
  32. [S572] The Mercury (Hobart), Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 1916 'Classified Advertising.', The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), 8 March, p. 1, viewed 16 March, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1027654
  33. [S254] Wises Post Office Directory,New South Wales, Australia (various dates), 1919.
  34. [S311] E-mails from Su Nicholson to Tim Hill, January 1999 14 Apr 2020, 13:17 - 'GG Nicholson- ThoseBefore.com - Source Page.'
  35. [S2] New South Wales, Death Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages 1924 No.8954.
  36. [S31] Sand's Directory,NSW, Australia (various dates), 1926.
  37. [S345] Australian Dictionary of Biography Online (http://adb.anu.edu.au/) Nicholson, George Gibb (1875–1948) http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/nicholson-george-gibb-7845 para 4.
  38. [S345] Australian Dictionary of Biography Online (http://adb.anu.edu.au/) Nicholson, George Gibb (1875–1948) http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/nicholson-george-gibb-7845 para 6.
  39. [S572] The Mercury (Hobart), Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 1915 'NEWS OF THE DAY.', The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), 20 November, p. 4, viewed 16 March, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10436630