Godfrey Nicholson

Nicholson was born on 9 December 1901. he was a younger son of Richard Francis Harrison (1865–1940) and Helen Violet (née Portal) Nicholson (1867–1927). Through his father, he was a member of the family which founded London-based gin distillers J&W Nicholson & Co.^[2]

His paternal grandparents were William Nicholson and the former Isabella Sarah Meek. Among his paternal family were uncles, William Graham Nicholson and John Sanctuary Nicholson.^[2] His maternal grandparents were Helen Mary Charlotte (née Soulsby) Portal and Rev. George Raymond Portal (a brother of Sir Wyndham Portal, 1st Baronet), the President of the Oxford Union who served as rector of Albury, Surrey and of Burghclere.^[3][4]

He was educated at Winchester College and graduated from Christ Church, Oxford in 1925.^{[citation needed]}

In 1931, he contested and won Morpeth and held the seat until 1935. Two years later, he contested and won Farnham in a by-election and on the outbreak of World War II in 1939, he served with The Royal Fusiliers until 1942. He was subsequently a captain in the Home Guard and as MP criticized that an issue of pikes to the Home Guard made during a shortage of rifles "if not meant as a joke, was an insult".^[5][6]

On 20 March 1958, Nicholson was made a baronet^[7] and retired from politics in 1966.^{[citation needed]}

On 30 June 1936, he had married Lady Katharine Lindsay (1912–1972), a younger daughter of David Lindsay, 27th Earl of Crawford, and the former Constance Lilian Pelly (a daughter of Sir Henry Pelly, 3rd Baronet). Together, they had four daughters:^[2]

• Rose Helen Nicholson (b. 1937), who married Richard Luce, Baron Luce, a son of Margaret (née Napier) and Sir William Luce.^[2]
• Laura Violet Nicholson (1939–2021), who married Sir John Montgomery-Cuninghame, 12th Baronet, the youngest son of Sir Thomas Montgomery-Cuninghame, 10th Baronet and, his second wife, Nancy Macaulay Foggo, in 1964.^[2]
• Emma Harriet Nicholson (b. 1941), who married Sir Michael Harris Caine, in 1987.^[2]
• Harriet Mary Nicholson (b. 1946), who married Charles Hugh Flower (a maternal great-great-grandson of the 1st Duke of Abercorn).^[2]

Sir Godfrey was a favourite at the London Gliding Club where they appreciated his passing of favourable laws regarding gliding.

As Nicholson had no sons from his marriage, his title became extinct upon his death in 1991.^[2]

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Sir Godfrey Nicholson
• British Army Officers 1939−1945
• Nicholson, Sir Godfrey, (1901-1991), 1st Baronet, politician at the National Archives (United Kingdom)