New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-12
Ex- Managing Editor of
The Tribune Became
III on March 6.
WAS CLOSE FRIEND
OF WHITELAW REID
Retiring in 1905. He Continued
His Relationship as a Contrib
utor-Three Sons Survive.

Donald Nicholson. former managing
editor OF The New York Tribune, died
at his home here early this morning,
after an illness OF nine weeks, from a
complication OF diseases. He had n
good day yesterday. and there were
symptoms Of recovery, but he suffered
e relapse last night, and failed steadily
until the hour Of his death
Mr.. Nicholson was one OF the towns
chief benefactors and was especially
interested in educational subjects. Ar
Engagements for the funeral will be
completed later.
No more significant tribute could
we'll be paid 10 Donald Nicholson than
that brief one which was penned some
years ago bv Whitelaw REID, MS asso-
ciatc. friend and chief for more than
forty years. "Mr. Nicholson" he
wrote, has been closer 10 me than any
other man in my lifetime in the news
paper business In that compacted
sentence is an cpitome of long career
Of singularly efficient and loyal SER
vice
Son of Daring Seaman.
Donald Nicholson was born near
Hoylakc, England, on June I, 1894. His
father. Captain Nicholson. was a
Scotchman. was for many years one Of
the largest land owners Of the Isle of
Skye and was especially noted for be
ing a daring seaman. A number Of
sailing vessels in the coast trade Of
Great Britain were owned and manned
By Captain Nicholson, and he took par
ticular pains to see that his sons, as
soor as they were able 20 do heavy
work, got practical instruction before
the mast. The captain and his sons
were all tall and Of exceptionally
sturdy stature Donald. who was one
Of the Youngest Of the family, early
eyinced fonduess for books. and won
much praise for his studious habits
from the stern Hoylake schoolmasters.
All too frequently, however, his studies
were interrupted by his fathers TAX
ing him, while he was yet mere boy,
on long and severely trying cruises in
coastwisc trade. For Captain Nicholson
was inclined to the theory that about
all a child should be taught. besides the
fear OF God and 20 honor his parents
and elders, were the proyerbial three
Rs" Donald Nicholson. however, was
blessed with d mother who believed
that a child should be encouraged to
do the useful life work which he chose
TO do. She early pictured to Donald
that he would one day win high honors
i'm one OF the oldest and most famous
Of English universities. and some years
later she had the happiness Of seeing
him get an instructors hOnors at
Christ College, Cambridge University.
The day on which he had matriculat-
ed for the college his father pleaded
with him to forget books and studious
ways and become an apprentice boy on
one Of his boats. His father also told
him that he could never hope to com
pete successfully with the sons of the
nobility in college, and added that he
never wanted to know anything more
about these SILLY hobbies of a child
In order TO meet his college expenses
Donald became a private instructor "a
several noblemen's sons, ard this work
and his scholarly ability resulted in his
becoming one of the most popular stu
dents at the institution and an init
mate friend and classmate of men who
later in life became eminent figures in
English public life. The students who
got instructors honors at Christ Col
lCge, Cambridge, were usually assigned
TO be assistants at one of the prepare
tory schools Of the university at the
end of the college term.
Donald Nicholson accepted such q
post and was assigned to Gainsborough
Hall Later he taught at Selattyn and
Wrexham. II was while at Wrexham
that a friendship with the pastor OF
tire church led to his study of the pipe
organ. Il was many years later, on the
occasion of his sixtieth birthday, that
Mr.. Reid gave him fine pipe organ
which he had placed in his home in
Brooklyn.
1t was while teaching that his
facile pen attracted the attention Of
some friends OF General L. S. Grant
who wished to have a history of that
chieftain's career written. In cOnsc-
oUence of their Overtures, and for other
considerations. Mr.. Nicholson came 10
New York in December. 1868. and es-
tablished himself at the old Kings
bridge Hotel, on the kingSbridge Road
One Of his first acquaintance as a
guest Of the hotel was Edgar Allan Poe
who frequently read him the manu-
scripts of poems and short stories be-
fore they were given to the publishers.
There he elaborated with Albert
d. Richardson in writing a life OF
Grant which, though not bearing the
writer's names, attained an enormous
circulation He remained in associa-
tion with Richardson until the latter's
tragic death at the hand of Daniel Mac
Farland. Then, naturally enough, see
ing that Richardson had been one OF
the chief staff correspondents Of The
Tribune, he entered the service of this
journal as secretary to Whitelaw Reid
who was then managing editor
Secretary TO Whitelaw Reid
When Horace Greeley retired from
the editorship in order to run for the
Presidency, Whitelaw Reid was chosen
TO succeed him as editor, and he elected
to be. with the efficient aid of Mr.
Nicholson, as his secretary, his owr
managing editor and also publisher. In
/ the course of few years, however. he
I recognized the fine administrative abil-
/ tiles of his secretary by making him
managing editor, and in that place he
remained for many years. lie was alsC
for many years a stakeholder anc
director of The Tribune Association
and in April, 1898, when under new by.
/ laws of the corporation the Office OF
+ vice-president was created, he was
unanimously elected to that Office. and
was similarly reelected TO it every
year during the remainder OF his life.
He retired from the managing edi
torship Of The Tribune on June |, 1905
simultaneously with Mr.. Reds resig
nation Of the editorship to become Am
bassador 10 Great Britain. He con