Donald Nicoll (25 April 1820 – 6 September 1891) was a

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Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

and

Radical Radical may refer to: Politics and ideology Politics *Radical politics, the political intent of fundamental societal change *Radicalism (historical), the Radical Movement that began in late 18th century Britain and spread to continental Europe and ...

politician, businessman, inventor and author.

Inventions

Born in 1820, Nicoll started his career in trade, becoming the owner of sanitary works, as well as an inventor and maker of patented appliances for the interception and deodorization of sewage, and the filtration of water. Further, he developed improvements to fire escapes, fog signals for vessels, and electric and telegraph conductors. In 1872, and in conjunction with Robert Sabine, ten miles of underground telegraph conductors were laid on a system he had secured a patent for. At the time of his death in 1891, he was also involved in bringing out a patent for paving roadways with hard Australian jarrah-wood, which he predicted to be cheap, clean and safe for horses.

Political career

Nicoll first stood for election was a Radical candidate at

Frome Frome ( ) is a town and civil parish in eastern Somerset, England. The town is built on uneven high ground at the eastern end of the Mendip Hills, and centres on the River Frome. The town, about south of Bath, is the largest in the Mendip d ...

at a by-election in 1854—caused by the death of the sitting Whig

Robert Edward Boyle Robert Edward Boyle (March 1809 – 3 September 1854) was a British soldier and Liberal Party politician. Boyle was the fourth son of Edmund Boyle, 8th Earl of Cork, and his wife Isabella Henrietta (née Poyntz). He served with the Coldstream Guar ...

. However, Nicoll was defeated by Boyle's son and the Whig candidate,

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, by 52 votes. At another by-election in 1856—caused by the succession of Richard Boyle to 9th

Earl of Cork Earl of Cork is a title in the Peerage of Ireland, held in conjunction with the Earldom of Orrery since 1753. It was created in 1620 for Richard Boyle, 1st Baron Boyle. He had already been created Lord Boyle, Baron of Youghal, in the County ...

and Orrery—Nicoll sought the seat once more. He was this time defeated by Boyle's younger brother,

William George Boyle The Honourable William George Boyle (12 August 1830 – 24 March 1908) was a British soldier and Liberal Party politician. Boyle was the second son of Charles Boyle, Viscount Dungarvan, second but eldest surviving son of Edmund Boyle, 8th Earl ...

, a Whig candidate, by just one vote. However, at the next general election in 1857, Nicoll successfully gained the seat, defeating Boyle and the Conservative candidate,

Edward Thynne Lord Edward Thynne (23 January 1807 – 4 February 1884) was an English nobleman. After a short career as an army officer, he sat in the House of Commons for two periods, separated by 26 years, and opposed parliamentary reform on both occasions. ...

, with a majority of 70 votes, or 21.5%. However, standing as a Liberal in 1859, Nicoll was unseated by Thynne with a 34.8% swing against the Liberals.

Works

Nicoll was also the author of a number of books and pamphlets, including: * ''Health and its Appliances'' (1884) * ''Underground versus Overhead Wires'' (1887) * ''The Telegraph and Telephone, considered in relation to Economy and Efficiency'' (1887)

Other activities

Nicoll was involved in numerous areas of public life, and he was awarded for being so. He was the

Sheriff of London and Middlesex Two sheriffs are elected annually for the City of London by the Liverymen of the City livery companies. Today's sheriffs have only nominal duties, but the historical officeholders had important judicial responsibilities. They have attended the ju ...

in 1849, and became captain of the 29th North Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps in 1864. He was appointed Commissioner for the City of London to the

1867 Paris Exhibition The International Exposition of 1867 (french: Exposition universelle 'art et d'industriede 1867), was the second world's fair to be held in Paris, from 1 April to 3 November 1867. A number of nations were represented at the fair. Following a dec ...

, receiving a medal and an honourable mention for an exhibit showing the properties of bitumen as an insulating material. The 1872 Moscow Exhibition and 1873 Vienna Exhibition also awarded him medals. He also served as a

Justice of the Peace A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...

for Middlesex and Westminster, chairman of the Poor Law Amendment Society, and a life governor of many London charitable institutions. He was a member of each of the Society of Arts, the Inventors' Institute, the Spectacle-makers' Company, and the united Grand Lodge of Freemasons. In 1884, he was elected an Associate of the Institution.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Nicoll, Donald UK MPs 1857–1859 1820 births 1891 deaths British inventors English justices of the peace London Regiment officers Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies Sheriffs of the City of London