Nicholas Van Dyke was educated at home and read law in Philadelphia, gaining admission to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1765. He spent several years in public service, beginning with his involvement in the Boston Relief Committee in Delaware and participation in the Delaware Constitutional Convention. Van Dyke held various state positions, including serving in the State Council, the State House, and as President of Delaware. He proposed and implemented a plan to address Delaware's war debt and managed the indefinite postponement of Loyalist Cheney Clow's execution.

Nicholas Van Dyke's political career reveals a calculated approach to regional interests, notably in his handling of war debt and Loyalist trials. His decision to indefinitely postpone the execution of Loyalist Cheney Clow, despite a conviction, suggests a nuanced understanding of public sentiment and political stability. Van Dyke's legislative record also shows an unexpected alignment with opposing factions on fiscal responsibilities, hinting at a strategy that balances ideological consistency with pragmatic regional needs.