https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_E._Nichols

Henry Ezra Nichols (died 10 June 1899) was an officer in the United States Navy who served as the commander of the Department of Alaska from September 14, 1884 to September 15, 1884 as commander of the USS Pinta.

Nichols graduated from the US Naval Academy in September 1865, and served in the US Navy for the rest of his life, reaching the rank of Captain in March 1899, a few months before his death.

Nichols is the namesake for the specific epithet of the blackeye goby (Rhinogobiops nicholsii). He collected the specimen and captained the ship during the voyage.

NICHOLS, Henry Ezra, American naval officer: b. New York; d. off Paranaque, Philippine Islands, 10 June 1899. He was graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1865 and served in the navy with steady promotion. He was engaged on the Coast Survey in 187677 and in 1880-84, and in 1897 took command of the Bennington, which became one of Admiral Dewey's fleet in 1898. In 1899 he was transferred to the command of the monitor Monadnock and rendered valuable assistance at the capture of Paranaque. Captain Nichols was overcome by the heat during the bombardment and died while his ship was still in action.

• The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge, Volume 20

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The monitor Monadnock and the gunboat Helena shelled Parañaque and Las Piñas all day. For the former vessel this was the culmination of an experience which had been protracted through two months, during all of which time she had been lying off Parañaque under fire. Captain Henry Ezra Nichols, of the Monadnock, was overcome by the heat at noon, and retired to his cabin, where he received reports of the operations and the advance of the Americans, who were closing in upon the towns. He continued to give directions until he lost consciousness. At five o’clock in the afternoon he died.

• Harper's History of the War in the Philippines edited by Marrion Wilcox
• San Francisco Call, Volume 87, Number 103, 13 March 1900 - Henry E. Nichol's burial