but it encountered strong opposition from the Legislative Council, which was dominated by landowners. When the Council severely amended the bill there were riots outside Parliament House. That stiffened conservative resistance and the bill was eventually passed in a much weaker form, which the squatters easily evaded. That failure led to Nicholson's resignation in November 1860. Late life Nicholson did not hold office again. Parallel to his serving as the premier of Victoria, however, he also fulfilled the duties of Chairman of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce. In 1860 he also held his third office, that of the Secretary of the Royal Society of Victoria. In January 1864, William Nicholson became severely ill and, unable to fully recover, died in little more than a year, less than two weeks after his forty-ninth birthday. He was survived by his wife Sarah Burkitt, née Fairclough, and four sons. Nicholson Street, a major north–south traffic artery in modern Melbourne, is named after him. References 1816 births 1865 deaths Premiers of Victoria Mayors and Lord Mayors of Melbourne People from Whitehaven Victoria (Australia) state politicians Members of the Victorian Legislative Council Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly 19th-century Australian politicians English emigrants to colonial Australia Australian grocers 19th-century Australian businesspeople Businesspeople from Melbourne