Joseph Shield Nicholson was born at Wrawby, Lincolnshire, on 9 November 1850. He studied at Edinburgh University and at Trinity College, Cambridge. Later on he studied at London. From 1876 until 1880 he was a private tutor at Cambridge where he had established his reputation in the field of political economy. His work on the Effects of machinery on wages was published in 1878. In 1880 he was appointed to the Chair of Political Economy at Edinburgh University. Other publications by Nicholson include Tenant's gain not landlord's loss (1883), Historical progress and ideal socialism (1894), and The neutrality of the United States (1915). He also published romantic works including Thoth (1888) and A dreamer of dreams . Professor Joseph Shield Nicholson retired in 1925, and died on 12 May 1927.
From the guide to the Lectures and Correspondence of Professor Joseph Shield Nicholson (1859-1927), 1887-1899, (Edinburgh University Library)
