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USS NICHOLSON (DD-52)


Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign - NIU

CLASS - O' BRIEN As Built.
Displacement 1,090 Tons, Dimensions, 305' 3" (oa) x 31' 1" x 10' 7" (Max)
Armament 4 x 4"/50, 8 x 21" tt..
Machinery, 17,000 SHP; Direct Drive Turbines With Triple Expansion Cruising Engines, 2 screws
Speed, 29 Knots, Crew 101.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Cramp, Philadelphia on September 8 1913.
Launched August 19 1914 and commissioned April 30 1915.
Nicholson was placed into reserve November 27 1919
at Philadelphia. Reactivated with reduced complement from May
1921 thru May 1922. Decommissioned at Philadelphia and berthed
there until her sale.
Stricken January 7 1936.
Fate Sold June 30 1936 and broken up for scrap.
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Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Nicholson
James Nicholson
1737-1804

Nicholson
Samuel Nicholson
1743-1811

Nicholson
James William Augustus Nicholson
1821-1887
28k









13k









21k
A family renowned in American naval history, five of whose members gave especially distinguished service in the Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. The first three, all sons of Joseph and Hannah Scott Nicholson, were born in Chestertown, Md.: James in 1737, Samuel in 1743, and John in 1756. James Nicholson served in the colonial Navy with the British in the assault on Havana in 1762, and was commissioned Captain in the Continental Navy 10 October 1776. He commanded Defense, Trumbull, and Virginia, and when blockaded at Baltimore, took his men to join Washington at Trenton to aid in that key victory. He died 2 September 1804 at his home in New York City. Samuel Nicholson was a Lieutenant in Bon Homme Richard under John Paul Jones; then, in command of Deane, captured three British sloops-of-war. Appointed Captain upon the reorganization of the Navy in 1794, he superintended the construction of frigate Constitution and commanded her during her first commission. He died at Charlestown, Mass., 29 December 1811. John Nicholson entered the Continental Navy as Lieutenant in October 1776 and the next month was promoted to Captain to command sloop Hornet. After the war he was active in public affairs in Maryland, where he died in the summer of 1844. In the next generation, John’s son William Carmichael Nicholson, born 1800 in Maryland, entered as a midshipman in 1812 and served in President under Stephen Decatur during the War of 1812. Commissioned Captain in 1855, he commanded steam frigate Roanoake from May 1861. Appointed Commodore on the Retired List in July 1862, he served a year on the Retiring Board. He died 25 July 1872 at the Naval Asylum, Philadelphia. In the third generation, Samuel’s grandson James William Augustus Nicholson, born 10 March 1821 in Dedham, Mass., carried on the family tradition, entering the Navy as a midshipman in February 1838. As a Lieutenant, he served in Vandalia in Commodore Matthew G. Perry’s Japanese Expedition (1853–55). During the Civil War he served in Pocahontas and Pensacola, and commanded Isaac Smith, Shamrock, Manhattan, and Mohongo. Commodore from August 1873 and Rear Admiral from October 1881, he commanded the European Station 16 September 1881 to February 1883. When the British bombarded Alexandria, Egypt, in 1882, he rescued the records of the American Consulate and took American and other refugees aboard his flagship, Lancaster. Commendation from the Navy Department and awards of gratitude from European governments followed. He retired 10 March 1883 and died at his home in New York 28 October 1887.Bill Gonyo
Nicholson 89k1914, on builders trials. She has not had her armament fitted yet. USN
Nicholson 133kUSS Nicholson (DD-52) making 30.09 Knots on builder's trial, 1914. Source: Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo No. NH 44829.Mike Green
Nicholson 96kUSS Nicholson (DD-52) on builder's trial, 1914. Source: Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo No. NH 44827.Mike Green
Nicholson 145k1916 image as commissioned.Robert Hurst
Nicholson 173kCirca 1919, location unknown.Robert Hurst/Darryl Baker
Nicholson 45kCirca 1924, location unknown.Gerd Matthes

USS NICHOLSON DD-52 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The hazegray Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)

Commanding Officers
Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves

LCDR Adolphus Eugene Watson    Apr 30 1915 - Dec 27 1916 (later RADM)
LCDR Byron Andrew Long    Dec 27 1916 - Apr 4 1917
LCDR Thalbert Nelson Alford    Apr 4 1917 - Mar 21 1919
CDR Reed Marquet Fawell    Mar 21 1919 - Aug 19 1921
CDR John Franklin Green    Aug 19 1921 - May 26 1922

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Tin Can Sailors Website
Destroyer History Foundation
Destroyers Online Website
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