George Robert Nichols
| George Nichols | |
|---|---|
| Auditor-General | |
|
In office 6 June 1856 – 25 August 1856 |
|
| Preceded by | New Position |
| Succeeded by | Terence Murray |
| Secretary for Lands and Works | |
|
In office 6 June 1856 – 25 August 1856 |
|
| Preceded by | New Position |
| Succeeded by | Terence Murray |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
George Robert Nichols 27 September 1809 Sydney, New South Wales |
| Died | 12 September 1857 (aged 47) Sydney, New South Wales |
| Spouse(s) | Eliza Boggs (d.1835) 23 March 1831 Susannah Eliza Barnes 16 December 1837 Eliza Smith 14 July 1854 |
George Robert Nichols (27 September 1809 – 12 September 1857), also known as Bob Nichols, was an Australian politician, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council between 1848 and 1856. He was also a member of the inaugural New South Wales Legislative Assembly for one term from 1856 until his death.
Nichols was the second son of Isaac Nichols, a former convict who became a successful Sydney businessman and the first postmaster in the colony, and Rosanna Abrahams, daughter of Esther Johnston (also known as Esther Abrahams or Esther Julian). Shortly before his father's death in 1819, George Nichols was sent to England for an education, but returned to Sydney early in 1823.
On returning to Australia he worked as an articled clerk until he was admitted as the first native-born Australian solicitor on 1 July 1833. Nichols had founded the law firm Clayton Utz in February 1833. During this period he was also an editor of William Wentworth's Australian newspaper. He was bankrupted in the financial crisis of 1842 but later returned to his legal practice. Nichols was a member of the Parramatta Regional Council, a trustee of Sydney Grammar School and a leading Freemason.
Among the pupils articled to Nichols were James Martin (afterwards Premier and Chief Justice of New South Wales) and Richard Dry (afterwards Premier of Tasmania). Nichols was conceded the privilege, enjoyed by no other practitioner of his grade, of appearing professionally in both the superior and inferior courts of the colony.
In 1848, prior to the establishment of responsible self-government, Nichols was elected to the semi-elected unicameral Legislative Council. He represented the electorate of Northumberland Boroughs (including Morpeth, West Maitland and East Maitland) until the granting of responsible self-government in 1856. At the first election under the new constitution he was elected to the Legislative Assembly as one of the two members for Northumberland Boroughs and continued to represent the seat until his death on 12 September 1857. Throughout his parliamentary career he was a strong supporter of Wentworth and William Bland.
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