Born in Sheffield in 1828, Matthew Henry Nicholson was the son of John Nicholson, the founder of John Nicholson & Sons.  By the age of 14, he was already apprenticed as a cutler.  He became a partner in his father’s cutlery business, but in 1854 decided to strike out on his own.  He made a speciality of table knives, and dessert, butchers’, and cooks’ knives.  By 1862, when he was based in Meadow Street, he employed 33 workers.  By 1871, when his business address was Eyre Street, his workforce had increased to 47 (25 men, 12 girls, and 10 boys).  By 1881, Nicholson had withdrawn from the cutlery trade.  According to the Census (1881), he was a coal merchant, employing two men.  By 1891, he had retired to Scarborough and died there on 13 July 1913, leaving £1,104.