Nathaniel B. Nichols

{{Short description|American control engineer (1914–1997)}}

{{Infobox scientist

| name = Nathaniel B. Nichols

| image = Replace this image male.svg

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| birth_date = 1914

| birth_place = Nottawa Township, Isabella County, Michigan

| death_date = 1997

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| residence =

| nationality = American

| field = Control theory

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| alma_mater = University of Michigan
Central Michigan University

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}}

Nathaniel B. Nichols (1914–1997) was an American control engineer who made significant contributions to the field of control theory. He is well known for his book Theory of Servomechanisms, one of the most widely read books in control engineering.

Nichols received a B.S. in chemistry in 1936 from Central Michigan University, and an M.S. in physics from the University of Michigan in 1937.{{Cite web|url=http://ethw.org/Nathaniel_B._Nichols|title=Nathaniel B. Nichols - Engineering and Technology History Wiki|date=9 February 2016 }}

He was President of the IEEE Control Systems Society in 1968 and the American Automatic Control Council in 1974 and in 1975; and a recipient of the Rufus Oldenburger Medal (1969){{cite web|url=http://www.asme.org/about-asme/honors-awards/achievement-awards/rufus-oldenburger-medal |title=Rufus Oldenburger Medal |publisher=American Society of Mechanical Engineers |accessdate={{Format date|2013|2|14}}}} and the Richard E. Bellman Control Heritage Award (1980).{{cite web|url=http://a2c2.org/awards/richard-e-bellman-control-heritage-award |title=Richard E. Bellman Control Heritage Award |publisher=American Automatic Control Council |accessdate={{Format date|2013|2|10}}}}