Henry Alfred Alford Nicholls was born in London on September 27, 1851. He received M.B. and C.M. degrees from the University of Aberdeen in 1873 and an M.D. at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, in 1875. After receiving his M.D., he served as Assistant Medical Officer in Dominica where he remained for the rest of his life. He married Marion Crompton in 1877 and they had four sons and six daughters. He was promoted to Chief Medical Officer in 1904 and held the post until his retirement on July 31, 1925. He died on February 9, 1926. In addition to his medical duties, Nicholls was interested in botany and agriculture. He was a regular correspondent of Kew, a major supporter of the Dominica Botanica Garden, and the author of a textbook on tropical agriculture. He "is credited with the discovery of the Boiling Lake in Dominica," and he "has a mountain and a parrot named after him." Heis said to have been known as "The Uncrowned King of Dominica."

Consists of a diary documenting Nicholls' travels in the Lesser Antilles between May 1 and June 18, 1891. Contains descriptions of botany, zoology, history and social customs of the area. Includes letter from Richard A. Howard detailing the contents of the diary and gift information

Available in library or via the Internet

Henry Alfred Alford Nicholls diary, Archives of the Arnold Arboretum (Cambridge), Harvard University

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