John George Nicolay
USABiography of John George Nicolay
John George Nicolay was an American biographer of German descent and the secretary of President Abraham Lincoln. He belonged to the German branch of the Nicolay family, a European noble family of old order. Nicolay first met the legendary Abraham Lincoln and became his devoted supporter. Shortly before John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Lincoln, Nicolay was appointed as the U.S. Consul in Paris.
Early Life and Career
John George Nicolay was born on February 26, 1832, in Essingen, Rhenish Bavaria. In 1838, he immigrated to the United States with his father and received his education in Cincinnati. Later, Nicolay moved to Illinois where he served as the editor of the "Pike County Free Press" in Pittsfield, Illinois and became involved in politics. It was during this time that he met the legendary Abraham Lincoln and became his devoted supporter. In 1861, Lincoln appointed Nicolay as his personal secretary, marking the first official act of his administration. Nicolay remained in this position until the death of the 16th President in 1865. Shortly before John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln, the President appointed Nicolay as the U.S. Consul in Paris, France.
Later Life and Contributions
After returning to the United States, Nicolay worked as the editor of the "Republican" newspaper in Chicago for a period of time. From 1872 to 1887, he served as the Marshal of the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1881, he wrote the book "The Outbreak of the Rebellion" which explored the American Civil War, its people, and the events surrounding it. Nicolay, along with John Hay, who worked as an assistant secretary to Lincoln, collaborated on the official biography of the 16th President. The biography, one of the most respected works on Lincoln, was serialized in the "Century Magazine" from 1886 to 1890 and later released as a ten-volume book set along with the two-volume "Complete Works of Abraham Lincoln". Additionally, Nicolay and Hay edited and published Lincoln's works in twelve volumes.
Nicolay was married to Therena Bates, and their daughter, Helen Nicolay, published the book "Personal Traits of Abraham Lincoln" in 1912, which she began working on after her father's death in 1901. Nicolay was also one of the founders of the Literary Society of Washington in 1847, as described in his daughter's book, which details the history and life of the society.
In the 1992 documentary film "Lincoln," narrated by Arnold Schwarzenegger from Austria, the role of Nicolay, originally from Germany, was voiced by Arnold Schwarzenegger. In the 2012 biographical film "Lincoln," Jeremy Strong portrayed Nicolay.
