Born on October 7, 1793, in Savannah, Georgia, Nicoll attended Litchfield Law School.
He was a Judge of the Superior Court of Georgia for the Eastern Judicial Circuit from 1834 to 1835.
[1] Nicoll received a recess appointment from President Martin Van Buren on May 11, 1839, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Georgia vacated by Judge Jeremiah La Touche Cuyler.
He was nominated to the same position by President Van Buren on January 23, 1840.
He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 17, 1840, and received his commission the same day.