William H. Nicholson
African-American firefighter
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The basics
Quick Facts
| Intro | African-American firefighter | |
| Places | United States of America | |
| was | Firefighter | |
| Gender |
| |
| Birth | 1869, New York City, New York, USA | |
| Death | 1911New York City, New York, USA (aged 42 years) |
The details
Biography
William H. Nicholson (1869–1911) was the first African American fireman in the New York City Fire Department. He was assigned to Engine Company 6 and detailed to the veterinary department to feed the horses and shovel manure.
Biography
William H. Nicholson was born in 1869 in Virginia. He migrated to New York City and worked as a cement tester. He joined the New York City Fire Department in Brooklyn in 1898 and was detailed to the veterinary unit to feed the horses and shovel manure.
Nicholson retired because of his bad health in 1911 and died a few weeks later.
Footnotes
- ^ "History of the Vulcan Society". Vulcan Society. Retrieved 2015-09-17.
- ^ Ginger Adams Otis (2015). Firefight: The Century-Long Battle to Integrate New York’s Bravest. Macmillan. ISBN 9781137280015.
- ^ "Colored Man Made Fireman. First One of His Race to Get On Force in New York City". New York Press. November 13, 1898.
- ^ "Can A Colored Man Extinguish Brooklyn Fires". The Brownstone Detectives. Retrieved 2015-12-02.