John Smith Nicholas was commodore at his death in 1863 or 64.  He always went by the sobriquet od "old captain". He was a fine officer and greatly beloved by all and was said to be the handsomest man in the Navy.
Commodore John Smith Nicholas was stationed at the navy yard, where three of his children were born. In Cooper's "Afloat and Ashore" there is an account of a fire in New York where noble service was done by a company of naval officers which was commanded by Cap'n John Smith Nicholas, to whom the credit was given for having used dynamite to stop further damage, the first time it was used for this in this country. He was a commanding presence. He was always able to manage his men without having to resort to irons or crude methods. At one time, although for many year in the Navy, he could not swim, and falling overboard, he looked up and found the water black with sailors, all anxious to resue their dear old commander. He retired after the first six months of the Civil War.