Nichols was the captain and co-owner of the transport vessel, the Duke William, when it sank in the North Atlantic on 13 December 1758.
[2] Nichols received international attention when his journal recounting the tragic incident was published in popular print throughout the 19th century in England and America.
One notable passenger on board the Duke William was Noel Doiron described by Nichols in his journal as the "head prisoner".
[4] Nichols wrote to George Washington on 6 May 1778 and requested his prompt release through a prisoner exchange with England.
[7] After his release as a prisoner, Captain Nichols took up residence in Falmouth, Cornwall, England and finished his career making trans-Atlantic crossings in the Swift Packet delivering mail, though illness on occasion made him unable to travel.