Nicholas Merritt Nolan (March 10, 1835 – October 24, 1883) was a United States Army major. He began his military career on December 9, 1852 as an artilleryman, and subsequently served in the 2nd Dragoons. He started as a private and rose through the ranks becoming a First Sergeant. He was commissioned an officer in late 1862 in the Regular Army while serving with the 6th U.S. Cavalry Regiment during the American Civil War.