William Nicholson

Author of The navigator's assistant; containing the theory and practice of navigation, with all the tables requisite for determining a ship's place at sea", published 1784.

He was master attendant of Chatham dockyard.

Formerly he was 1st master attendant in Portsmouth at the time of the sinking of the Royal George. (see 'History of the proceedings and debates of the House of Commons", volume 15)

According to Isle of Wight Shipwrecks: 'Royal George "While this was going on, Captain Waghorn ordered a minor repair to be made below the water-line. A water-cock that provided sea-water for cleaning the gun-decks needed to be replaced. Although William Nicholson, Master Attendant of Portsmouth Dockyard, had warned against making the repair with the ship loaded with the 548 tons of stores and 83 tons of ammunition needed for the Gibraltar expedition, Captain Waghorn ordered the repairs to be made. The proposed method of repair was to heel the ship by moving the cannon from one side of the ship to the other. At 7am the 820-strong crew hauled and pushed the cannon into position to achieve the eight degree list to starboard. While this was going on, despite the fleet-wide ban on shore leave, the Master, the Boatswain and the Gunner were in Portsmouth. These were the three officers who would normally oversee such an operation, and whose expertise would have been vital to prevent sinking. No-one was left in charge of the operation below decks. Captain Waghorn had also controversially ordered that the lower gun-decks, normally closed when a ship is being heeled, should remain open."