John Fearns Nicoll

Sir John Fearns Nicoll KCMG KStJ (26 April 1899 – 12 January 1981) was a British colonial administrator who served as Governor of Singapore from 1952 to 1955.

Sir John Fearns Nicoll
KCMG KStJ
2nd Governor of Singapore
In office
21 April 1952 – 2 June 1955
MonarchElizabeth II
Chief MinisterDavid Marshall
Preceded byFranklin Gimson
Wilfred Lawson Blythe (acting)
Succeeded byWilliam Goode (acting)
Robert Black
18th Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong
In office
25 May 1949 – 23 January 1952
MonarchsGeorge VI
Elizabeth II
Preceded byDavid Mercer MacDougall
Succeeded byRobert Black
Acting High Commissioner for the Western Pacific
In office
21 March 1947 – 8 October 1947
MonarchGeorge VI
Preceded byAlexander Grantham
Succeeded byBrian Freeston
Acting Governor of Fiji
In office
4 May 1944 – 23 October 1944
MonarchGeorge VI
Preceded byJohn Rankine (acting)
Succeeded byJohn Rankine (acting)
Personal details
Born(1899-04-26)26 April 1899
Died12 January 1981(1981-01-12) (aged 81)
Wimbledon Common, England, United Kingdom
NationalityBritish
Spouse(s)
Irene, Lady Nicoll
​
(m. 1939)​
[1]
Children1
Alma materPembroke College, Oxford
OccupationColonial administrator

Early years and colonial service

Nicoll was born in 1899 and attended Carlisle Grammar School, Pembroke College, Oxford and University of Oxford and embarked on a colonial career in British Protectorate of North Borneo in 1921.[2]

Nicoll became Deputy Colonial Secretary of the British Crown Colony Trinidad and Tobago in 1937, the Colonial Secretary of the British Colony of Fiji from 1944 to 1949. During this time, he served as Acting Governor twice, in 1944 and 1947. This was followed by his appointment as administrator and Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong in 1949.[2]

Nicoll became Governor of Singapore in 1952[3] and was present during the 1954 National Service riots and left the Governorship the following year. Nicoll retired from the Colonial Service and returned to Britain.

Awards and honours

Nicoll was invested as Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1946 New Year Honours[4] and was promoted to Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1953 New Year Honours.[5]

He was knighted with Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (KStJ) in 1952.[6]

Personal

Nicoll and his wife, Lady Irene, had one son, Anthony Nicoll.

Sir John Fearns Nicoll died on 12 January 1981 at Scio House Hospital, Putney Heath, United Kingdom.[7]

Legacy

Nicoll Highway was named in his honour[8] and a portrait of Nicoll by Elliott & Fry hangs in the National Portrait Gallery.

References
  1. "Nicoll, Sir John (Fearns)". ukwhoswho. 1 December 2007.
  2. "John Fearns Nicoll". nlb.gov.sg.
  3. "No. 39524". The London Gazette. 25 April 1952. p. 2240.
  4. "No. 37407". The London Gazette. 28 December 1945. p. 9.
  5. "No. 39732". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1952. p. 5.
  6. "No. 39584". The London Gazette. 27 June 1952. p. 3520.
  7. "No. 48503". The London Gazette. 23 January 1981. p. 1126.
  8. "Nicoll built the road". The Straits Times. Singapore. 30 June 1956. p. 5. Retrieved 18 December 2019 – via NewspaperSG.
  • Chua, Alvin (6 July 2009). "Sir John Fearns Nicoll". Singapore Infopedia. National Library Board Singapore. Retrieved 17 August 2010.


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