Nicholas Gosselin

Who was Nicholas Gosselin?

Major Sir Lord Nicholas Gosselin was an Irish military officer and intelligence agent.

Born in County Cavan, he entered the British Army at the age of 16, serving in the 39th Regiment of Foot and the Royal Welch Fusiliers before becoming the adjutant of the Cavan Militia.

He was appointed a resident magistrate in the West of Ireland 1882. In May 1883, he was seconded to the Home Office and given control of the newly formed Special Irish Branch, with the initial remit of gathering intelligence on Fenian organisations operating in Glasgow and northern England.

He remained nominally a magistrate during his time at the Home Office - described officially as "employment on special duty" - but did not carry out any of the associated duties nor was he paid for the post. He retired in 1904.