Who was William Nicol?

[carteki]

I'm having a bit of a problem finding out who William Nicol was and why does he have a road named after him in Singapore? Does anyone know? And do you know if this is the same guy who was an administrator of Transvaal in South Africa?

[sundaymorningstaple]

Nicoll Highway in Singapore was named after former Governor of Singapore Sir John Nicoll, Nicoll Highway and its linking Merdeka Bridge were declared open by Chief Minister Lim Yew Hock, amid much ceremony on 17 August, 1956.

William Nicol (only one 'l') on the other hand, was an Administrator in the old Transvaal Province, between 1 Nov 1948 and 31 Oct 1958. He was a member of the Nat Party and was born in 1887 and died in 1967.

sms

[carteki]

Thank you and explains why I was struggling to find references to William Nicol in Singapore!

Fortunately the cabbies knew where to take me when I told them to go via "William Nicol" - its the name of a major route in JHB.

[ksl]

He was also a Dr and surgeon, you can read the book 'Against the Grain"

[carteki]

He was also a Dr and surgeon, you can read the book 'Against the Grain"

I was browsing through it in trying to find the answer to the above question. It also turns out that he served in Singapore - but nothing of significance that would result in a road being named after him.

[ksl]

He was also a Dr and surgeon, you can read the book 'Against the Grain"

I was browsing through it in trying to find the answer to the above question. It also turns out that he served in Singapore - but nothing of significance that would result in a road being named after him.

There is also William Nicol drive, William Nicol Rd in South Africa. So I guess if he was Administrator in Singapore, he had some sort of power within the circle. I believe they was also involved in missionary work too, which may have something to do with rd names, If churches have been erected in the vicinity

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourways,_Gauteng

UK Politician and surgeon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ni ... olitician)

I think you will find the Nicol Family Tree rather interesting, they were also merchants in Singapore and into missionary work

http://www.antonymaitland.com/nicolfam.htm

Though I haven't yet found the link between the Roads, if it's the surgeon politician or if it was the Merchant Nicol. Though they appear to be a very important family. One of them in South Africa. Eliza was wife to one she worked for the missionary, I'm thinking its more likely the RD's are named for their missionary work in Singapore and South Africa. Eliza was a member of the Overseas Missionary Fellowship

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OMF_International