John George Nicolay

Date of Birth: February 26, 1832

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Date of Death: September 26, 1901

Biography

John George Nicolay was a prominent 19th-century American writer and public servant, best known for being a close associate and biographer of President Abraham Lincoln. Born in Bavaria, Germany, Nicolay emigrated to the United States with his family when he was a child. He grew up in Illinois and entered the world of publishing and politics in his early adulthood. Nicolay became Lincoln’s private secretary, a role in which he served throughout Lincoln’s presidency. After Lincoln’s assassination, Nicolay co-authored a comprehensive ten-volume biography of Lincoln with John Hay, another of Lincoln’s secretaries. This work remains one of the most thorough accounts of Lincoln’s life and presidency. Nicolay’s contributions to historical literature and his firsthand insights into Lincoln’s administration have cemented his place in American history.

5 Interesting Facts about John George Nicolay

1. John George Nicolay was born Johann Georg Nicolai in Essingen, Bavaria, before his family moved to the United States in 1838.

2. He served as the Marshal of the United States Supreme Court from 1872 to 1887.

3. Nicolay was instrumental in organizing Lincoln’s papers and preserving many important documents related to Lincoln’s presidency.

4. He served as the U.S. Consul in Paris from 1865 to 1869.

5. Nicolay’s collaboration with John Hay on Lincoln’s biography is often regarded as one of the greatest achievements in American historical scholarship.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from John George Nicolay

1. “Lincoln always made you feel that he personally cared about what you were doing.”

2. “The better part of one’s life consists of his friendships.”

3. “The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union.”

4. “His ambition was a quiet one; it was the ambition to do something worth doing and to do it well.”

5. “It is not best to swap horses while crossing the river.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

John George Nicolay’s highest net worth is not well-documented, as detailed financial records from his time are scarce. However, his contributions to literature and public service were invaluable.

Children

John George Nicolay had one daughter, Helen Nicolay, who also became an accomplished author and biographer, contributing to the legacy of her father’s work on Abraham Lincoln.