Wilson Cary Nicholas

Wilson Cary Nicholas
Wilson Cary Nicholas, by Gilbert Stuart. 1805.
United States Senator from Virginia
In office December 5, 1799 – May 22, 1804
Preceded by	Henry Tazewell
Succeeded by	Andrew Moore
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 21st district
In office March 4, 1807 – November 27, 1809
Preceded by	Thomas M. Randolph, Jr.
Succeeded by	David S. Garland
19th Governor of Virginia
In office December 1, 1814 – December 1, 1816
Preceded by	James Barbour
Succeeded by	James P. Preston
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
In office 1788–1789
Personal details
Born	(1761-01-31)January 31, 1761 Williamsburg, Colony of Virginia, British America
Died	October 10, 1820(1820-10-10) (aged 59) Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic-Republican
Relations	Brother of George Nicholas Uncle of Robert C. Nicholas
Alma mater	College of William and Mary

Wilson Cary Nicholas (January 31, 1761 – October 10, 1820) was an American politician who served in the U.S. Senate from 1799 to 1804 and was the 19th Governor of Virginia from 1814 to 1816.

Nicholas was born in Williamsburg in the Colony of Virginia and later attended the College of William and Mary.

Nicholas served as a lieutenant in the Albemarle County Militia during the American Revolution.

After the war, he was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates 1784–1789 and a delegate to the ratifying convention of 1788 which approved the Federal Constitution.

During the deliberations, on June 6, 1788, Nicholas countered Patrick's Henry's objection that correcting defects in the new national Constitution by way of the Article V convention would be excessively difficult. Said Nicholas: "The conventions which shall be so called will have their deliberations confined to a few points; no local interest to divert their attention; nothing but the necessary alterations. They will have many advantages over the last Convention. No experiments to devise; the general and fundamental regulations being already laid down."

During the years 1794–1800, Nicholas served again in the State house of delegates. He was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Henry Tazewell and served from December 5, 1799, until May 22, 1804, when he resigned to become collector of the port of Norfolk 1804–1807. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in the Tenth and Eleventh Congresses and served from March 4, 1807, until his resignation November 27, 1809. Nicholas was chosen to be Governor of Virginia and served in that position 1814–1817.