Thomas Nickerson | |
|---|---|
 Nickerson c. 1870 | |
| Born | Thomas Gibson Nickerson March 20, 1805 Harwich, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | February 7, 1883 (aged 77) |
| Occupation | Sailor |
| Known for | Crewmate of whaleship Essex |
| Notable work | The Loss of the Ship "Essex" Sunk by a Whale and the Ordeal of the Crew in Open Boats |
Thomas Gibson Nickerson (March 20, 1805 – February 7, 1883) was an American sailor and author. In 1819, when he was fourteen years old, Nickerson served as cabin boy on the whaleship Essex. On this voyage, the ship was sunk by a whale, and the crew spent three months at sea before the survivors were rescued. In 1876 he wrote The Loss of the Ship "Essex", an account of the ordeal and of his subsequent experiences at sea. The manuscript was lost until 1960, and was first published in 1984.