Nicholas Harris Nicolas
Sir (Nicholas) Harris Nicolas GCMG KH (10 March 1799 – 3 August 1848) was an English antiquary.The fourth son of Commander John Harris Nicolas RN (1758–1844) and Margaret (née Blake), he was born at Dartmouth.His work as a barrister was confined principally to peerage cases before the House of Lords, and he devoted the rest of his time to the study of genealogy and history.These attacks, which brought him into controversy with Francis Palgrave, led in 1836 to the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the public records.[3] Among his numerous other writings are: He edited Proceedings and Ordinances of the Privy Council of England, 1386–1542 (London, 1834–1837), and (with the help of Nelson's daughter Horatia) Dispatches and Letters of Lord Nelson (London, 1844–1846); wrote lives of Geoffrey Chaucer,[4] Robert Burns, William Cowper, William Collins, Henry Kirke White and others for Pickering's Aldine Press edition of the poets;[5] lives of Izaak Walton and Charles Cotton for an edition of The Compleat Angler illustrated by James Inskipp;[6] and several elaborate works on genealogical and kindred subjects printed for private circulation only.