Alexander Nicoll (1793–1828) was a Scottish orientalist, known for his bibliographical work. He became

Regius Professor of Hebrew at Oxford The Regius Professorship of Hebrew in the University of Oxford is a professorship at the University of Oxford, founded by Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. ...

in 1822.

Life

The youngest son of John Nicoll, he was born at

Monymusk Monymusk () is a planned village in the Marr area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. History Malcolm Canmore first established Celtic foundation on the site in 1078 The Culdees of Munimusc are recorded as inhabiting the site in 1170. Monymusk Pri ...

Aberdeenshire Aberdeenshire (; ) is one of the 32 Subdivisions of Scotland#council areas of Scotland, council areas of Scotland. It takes its name from the Shires of Scotland, historic county of Aberdeenshire (historic), Aberdeenshire, which had substantial ...

, 3 April 1793. After attending successively a private school, the parish school, and Aberdeen grammar school, he entered

Aberdeen University The University of Aberdeen (abbreviated ''Aberd.'' in post-nominals; ) is a public research university in Aberdeen, Scotland. It was founded in 1495 when William Elphinstone, Bishop of Aberdeen and Chancellor of Scotland, petitioned Pope Al ...

, where he studied two years with distinction. In 1807 he moved to

Balliol College, Oxford Balliol College () is a constituent college of the University of Oxford. Founded in 1263 by nobleman John I de Balliol, it has a claim to be the oldest college in Oxford and the English-speaking world. With a governing body of a master and aro ...

, on a Snell exhibition, and graduated B.A. in 1811, and M.A. in 1814. Nicoll began oriental studies in 1813, and was later appointed sub-librarian in the

Bodleian Library The Bodleian Library () is the main research library of the University of Oxford. Founded in 1602 by Sir Thomas Bodley, it is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. With over 13 million printed items, it is the second-largest library in ...

. In 1817 he took deacon's orders, and became a curate in an Oxford church. In 1822 he succeeded

Richard Laurence Richard Laurence (13 May 1760 – 28 December 1838) was an English Hebraist and Anglican churchman. He was made Regius Professor of Hebrew and canon of Christ Church, Oxford, in 1814, and Archbishop of Cashel, Ireland, in 1822. Laurence, younge ...

as Regius Professor of Hebrew and canon of

Christ Church, Oxford Christ Church (, the temple or house, ''wikt:aedes, ædes'', of Christ, and thus sometimes known as "The House") is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Founded in 1546 by Henry V ...

; and was made D.C.L. in the same year. Nicoll was elected a

Fellow of the Royal Society Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the Fellows of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural science, natural knowledge, incl ...

in 1826. He died of bronchitis on 24 September 1828.

Works

Nicoll's main work was his catalogues of the oriental manuscripts in the Bodleian Library. He first arranged those acquired by

Edward Daniel Clarke Edward Daniel Clarke (5 June 17699 March 1822) was an English clergyman, naturalist, mineralogist, and traveller. Life Edward Daniel Clarke was born at Willingdon, Sussex, and educated first at Uckfield School"Anthony Saunders, D.D." in Mark ...

, and published in 1815 a second part of the catalogue, which dealt with the oriental manuscripts; the first part, dealing with the classical manuscripts, had been issued by

Thomas Gaisford Thomas Gaisford (22 December 1779 – 2 June 1855) was an English classical scholar and clergyman. He served as Dean of Christ Church from 1831 until his death. Early life Gaisford was born at Iford Manor, Wiltshire, the son of John Gaisford ...

in 1812. In 1818 Nicoll published ''Notitia Codicis Samaritano-Arabici Pentateuchi in Bibl. Bodleiana'', Oxford. Finally, he added in 1821 a second part to the ''Bibliothecæ Bodleianæ Codicum Manuscriptorum Orientalium Catalogus'', of which the first part, by

Joannes Uri Joannes Uri or Uri János (1724–1796) was a Hungarian orientalist. Life Born at Nagykőrös in Hungary, Uri studied the oriental languages under Jan Jacob Schultens at Leyden University, where he took the degrees of Ph.D. and D.D. In 1766 the ...

, had appeared in 1788. The third part, by

Edward Bouverie Pusey Edward Bouverie Pusey (; 22 August 180016 September 1882) was an English Anglican cleric, for more than fifty years Regius Professor of Hebrew at the University of Oxford. He was one of the leading figures in the Oxford Movement, with interest ...

, was printed in 1835.

Family

Nicoll was twice married—first to Johanna Felborg, who died in 1816 within days of the marriage; and, secondly, to Sophia, daughter of James Parsons, the editor of the Oxford ''

Septuagint The Septuagint ( ), sometimes referred to as the Greek Old Testament or The Translation of the Seventy (), and abbreviated as LXX, is the earliest extant Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible from the original Biblical Hebrew. The full Greek ...

''’ who prepared a posthumous volume of Nicoll's sermons, with memoir, in 1830. By his second wife he left three daughters.

References

External links

WorldCat page
;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Nicoll, Alexander 1793 births 1828 deaths Scottish orientalists Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford Fellows of the Royal Society Regius Professors of Hebrew (University of Oxford) Scottish bibliographers 19th-century Scottish people People from Monymusk People educated at Aberdeen Grammar School Alumni of the University of Aberdeen Scottish librarians