Nigel was born in London on 16 November 1920 the elder son of Sir Charles William Cayzer, M.P., 3rd Bt., and of Lady Cayzer (nee Meakin),
He was educated at Eton and matriculated in 1939. He was up at Christ Church from 1939 until 1941 and was awarded his BA in 1942.
His father died in 1940 and he succeeded to the baronetcy.
Nigel was serving as a Lieutenant with the 2nd Battalion, The Scots Guards when he was, initially, reported missing. He was killed when the regiment landed at Salerno.
He is buried in the Salerno War Cemetery Plot II. C. 26
He is commemorated on the Newtyle, Blairgowrie War Memorial.