Thomas Joseph Nicolson (c. 1645 – 12 October 1718) was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of Scotland.
He would not comply with the Test Act passed by the Scottish Parliament in 1681, and was removed from his position at the University of Glasgow.
He then returned to the Glasgow on mission, and was imprisoned in Stirling Castle at the time of the Glorious Revolution.
[2] There was a need for a superior in Scotland with the authority over the secular and regular clergy, and following the Glorious Revolution the Church was left in further chaos.
Unable to travel to Scotland immediately, he secured the submission of the Abbots of the Scottish monasteries at Würzburg and Ratisbon.