Arthur Forbes Nicol was born on December 10, 1870 in Scotland to James Nicol and Margaret Agnes Wyllie. He prospered in business, a traveler and adventurer in London, England, India and the Yukon. In 1903 he married Florence Helen Kempt, daughter of Irvine Kempt and Margaret Davidson of Glasgow. In 1928 he purchased property near Oban, Argyll, that included the Kilninver Estate, where he lived until his death in 1958.