Nicholas Fish II

For his grandfather, soldier, (1758-1833), see Nicholas Fish.

Nicholas Fish II
United States Ambassador to Belgium
In office April 28, 1882 – July 3, 1885
Preceded by	James O. Putnam
Succeeded by	Lambert Tree
United States Ambassador to Switzerland
In office June 20, 1877 – May 11, 1881
Preceded by	George Schneider
Succeeded by	Michael J. Cramer
Personal details
Born	(1846-02-19)February 19, 1846 New York City
Died	New York City
Resting place	Saint Philip's Church Cemetery Garrison, New York
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Clemence Smith Bryce (m. 1869)
Children	2 (including Hamilton Fish II)
Alma mater	Columbia University Harvard Law School
Profession	Lawyer Diplomat Banker
Religion	Episcopal

Nicholas Fish (February 19, 1846–September 16, 1902) was the grandson of American Revolutionary War soldier Nicholas Fish and son of the Secretary of State Hamilton Fish.

Biography

He was born in New York City and educated at Columbia University (bachelor of arts, 1867; master of arts, 1871) and Harvard Law School (bachelor of laws, 1869). He practiced law in New York City, then went into the diplomatic service.

Appointed as the Second Secretary of Legation at Berlin (1871), he became Secretary (1874) and acted in the continued absence of his chief as chargé d'affaires, held the latter position in Switzerland (1877–81) and then served as minister to Belgium (1882–86). He returned to New York City in 1887 and became a member of the banking firm of Harriman & Co.

Following the death of his father, he became a member of the New York Society of the Cincinnati in 1894 and later served as president of the New York Society.

He was fatally assaulted in New York City on September 16, 1902 by Thomas J. Sharkey as Fish was exiting a bar. Fish died from blunt force trauma to the head, and Sharkey was convicted of manslaughter and subsequently sentenced to ten years in prison. Fish was buried at Saint Philip's Church Cemetery in Garrison, New York.

Fish's son Hamilton Fish II was a member of the Rough Riders in the Spanish–American War, and was killed at the Battle of Las Guasimas.

References

• Harvard University, The Harvard Graduates' Magazine, Volume 11, 1903, page 307
• Columbia University, Columbia University Quarterly, Volume 5, 1902, page 249
• Thomas William Herringshaw, Herringshaw's National Library of American Biography, 1909, page 452

External links

• Nicholas Fish II at Find a Grave