| Honorific Prefix: | Admiral |
| Sir William Nicholson | |
| Birth Date: | 28 October 1863 |
| Allegiance: |  United Kingdom |
| Rank: | Admiral |
| Commands: | HMS Canada |
| Battles: | World War I |
| Awards: | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath |
Admiral Sir William Coldingham Masters Nicholson, KCB (28 October 1863 – 9 January 1932) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy.
William Nicholson was educated at Stubbington House School.[1] A Commander in the Royal Navy, he was on 10 September 1902 appointed in command of the torpedo gunboat HMS Antelope, serving in home waters.[2]
He served in World War I and, as Captain of HMS Canada, saw action at the Battle of Jutland in 1916.[3] He went on to be Rear Admiral i.e. Second of Command of the 1st Battle Squadron later that year.[4] He was appointed Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy in 1919[5] and was given command of the 2nd Battle Squadron in October 1920.[6] He then became Commander of the 1st Battle Squadron in May 1921.[7]
He lived at Winchcombe in Gloucestershire.[8]