William Nicolay facts for kids
Sir William Nicolay (born April 14, 1771 – died May 3, 1842) was a brave officer in the British Army. He fought in the famous Battle of Waterloo and later became the Governor of Mauritius, an island nation.
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Early Life and Military Training
William Nicolay was born in St. James's Palace in London on April 14, 1771. His father, Frederick de Nicolay, worked for Queen Charlotte, who was the wife of King George III.
When he was 14, William joined the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. This was a special school where young people learned to become army officers. He became a second lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in 1790.
Adventures Around the World
In 1791, William traveled to India with his army unit. He helped the British army in battles there, including the siege of Seringapatam in 1792. He also worked as an engineer during the capture of Pondicherry in 1793.
Later, William joined the Royal Engineers. This group of soldiers built and maintained forts, bridges, and other important structures. He helped capture the island of Saint Lucia and then worked on other islands like Tobago and Trinidad. However, he had to return home after breaking his leg.
Fighting in Europe
After recovering, William joined a new army group called the Royal Staff Corps in 1801. This group helped with important planning and engineering jobs for the army. He worked on defending the coast of England and later went to Spain with Sir John Moore. He was part of the army that fought in the Battle of Corunna in 1809.
In 1815, William Nicolay went to Belgium with his troops. He played a part in the very important Battle of Waterloo. During this battle, he was hit in the head and knocked off his horse, but he kept fighting! For his bravery, he received the Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) medal and the Waterloo Medal. After the battle, he stayed with the army that occupied Paris, France.
Becoming a Governor
After his military career, William Nicolay became a governor in several British colonies.
- From 1824 to 1831, he was the Governor of Dominica.
- From 1831 to 1832, he was the Governor of Saint Kitts and Nevis, which also included Antigua and the British Virgin Islands.
- From 1832 to 1840, he served as the Governor of Mauritius. This was a challenging time because slavery had just been abolished, which caused some tension on the island.
William Nicolay passed away on May 3, 1842, at his home in Cheltenham, England.
