Nicholas, Wilson Cary

Nicholas, Wilson Cary

(1761–1820) U.S. representative/senator, governor; born in Williamsburg, Va. Son of Robert Carter Nicholas, a prominent Virginian official, he served with George Washington's personal guard unit in the closing years of the American Revolution. After serving with the Virginia Assembly (1784–89, 1794–99), he then represented Virginia in the U.S. Senate (Dem.-Rep.; 1799–1804) and in the U.S. House of Representatives (Dem.-Rep.; 1807–09). While governor of Virginia (1814–17), he assisted his friend Thomas Jefferson in establishing the University of Virginia, but he also nearly bankrupted Jefferson, who had cosigned a loan for his speculation in western lands.