• Son of Peter Nicol, Seaton Gate, merchant and guild burgess, and Ann Jaffray.
• 1816 – M.A., Marischall College.
• Apprenticed to Alexander Cadenhead.
• Sometime in partnership with David Monro , firm being Nicol & Monro.
• Town Clerk of Old Aberdeen.
• 1840 – Clerk & Assessor to the Incorporated Trades of Old Aberdeen.
• Factor, Bishops’ Hospital and Mitchell’s Hospital, Old Aberdeen.
• Treasurer, Merchant Society.
• 1847 – 48 – Magistrate of the Town Council of Aberdeen
• 1848 – 50 – City Treasurer of the Town Council of Aberdeen.
• Guild burgess, admitted 16^th February, J 828.
• 1823 – Married Barbara Allan, at Manse of Methlick, on 27th November.
• 1840 – 22nd January, due to the ill health of Clerk Adam Coutts he suggested to the Trades that Mr James Nicol stand in his place as Clerk for one year or until his health improved. At this meeting Mr Nicol was admitted to the position of Depute Clerk to the Convener Court and The Seven Incorporated Trades for the period of one year.
• 1840 – On the 3 September 1840, the Convener Court received a letter of resignation from Mr Adam Coutts which was accepted and Mr Nicol was unanimously appointed joint Clerk and Assessor to the Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen on the 1^st September 1840.
• 1851 – Mr Nicol’s term of office has expired as Joint Trades Clerk and Assessor, 28th November.
• 1855 – Died on 18th March, aged 55 years, in Aberdeen.