Biography:

Dr. Frederick Robert Nicolle was born in Kingston, Ontario on the 18th of April, 1884.  Dr. Nicolle was the eldest of 5 children born to John Nicolle and the former Mary Ann “Minnie” Rattenbury. His father was a grocer and his siblings were; Edmond Harvey Nicolle (who was born on the 2nd of August, 1886 and died 28 days later), Laura Alma Nicolle, Alda Louise Nicolle and John Leslie Nicolle (who was born on the 21st of May, 1900 and died at the age of 3 months) .

Dr. Nicolle attended Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. According to the 1903 Foster’s City of Kingston Directory, he resided at 41 Union Street and he was listed as a student.  He graduated B.A. in 1903 and M.D.,C.M. in 1906. Dr. Nicolle was only 22 years old. He completed his internship in the summer of 1908.

Dr. Nicolle married Margaret Gertrude Callaghan on the 20th of October, 1906 in Toronto.  Mrs. Nicolle was born in Campbellford (Northumberland County), Ontario on the 4th of September, 1881.  She was the 3rd of 5 children born to Thomas Callaghan and the former Mary J. Flaherty.  Her father was a lumberman and her siblings were; Mary Ann Callaghan, Dennis Callaghan, Thomas Callaghan and Nellie Callaghan (she died of tuberculosis at the sanitarium in Orillia, Ontario on the 12 of June, 1902.  She was 17 years old).

Dr. and Mrs. Nicolle had 3 children.  Their daughter Margaret Mary Nicolle was born on the 19th of August, 1907 in Dunchurch, Ontario (near Parry Sound).  Their son John Thomas Nicolle was born on the 10th of September, 1908 in Hastings, Ontario (near Coburg).  Another son, Basil Callaghan Nicolle was born on the 22nd of September, 1910 in Alliston, Ontario.

Shortly after their son Basil was born, Dr. and Mrs. Nicolle settled at 275 King St., West in Chatham.  According to the 1915 Vernon’s City of Chatham Business Directory, this address was the location of his residence and medical office.  Dr. Nicolle acted as the medical officer of the 24th Kent Regiment prior to enlisting in WWI.

On the 16th of May, 1916, during World War I, Dr. Nicolle enlisted in the Canadian Armed Services with the rank of Captain. Dr. Nicolle served in France, close to the front lines.  An article appeared in the Chatham Daily News on the 12th of December, 1916, reporting that Dr. Nicolle was recovering from “trench fever” at King’s College Hospital in England.  In that same article it mentioned that Mrs. Nicolle and their children were residing in Chatham.  Dr. Nicolle was sent home to Chatham to convalesce in 1917.  The Chatham Daily Planet announced in an edition dated the 21st of November of 1917, that Dr. Nicolle was resuming his medical practice, in “general surgery, x-ray for surgical and medical purposes”.  Dr. Nicolle sold his medical practice to Dr. Stanislau “Stanley” Brisson in May of 1918.  It is believed that Dr. Nicolle moved to Regina, Saskatchewan with his family at that time.

Mrs. Nicolle died in Regina, Saskatchewan on the 19th of March,1928.  She was buried at the Regina Cemetery.

In 1942, Dr. Nicolle enlisted in World War II for the United States Army.  At the time of his registration he resided at 820 Leland Ave., in Chicago and his son Basil was his next of kin.

Dr. Nicolle died on the 26th of May, 1959 in Hennepin, Minnesota, U.S.A.  He was buried at the Dale/Rice Memorial Cemetery in Roseville, Minnesota.

*Dr. Nicolle’s son, Basil Callaghan Nicolle served with the United States Army during WWII.

**Mrs. Nicolle’s brother Thomas Callaghan served with the Canadian Armed Services during WWI.

***Dr. Nicolle also appears on the ‘Gathering Our Heroes’ website.

****Dr. Stanislau Brisson is also featured on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.