Nikolay Chkheidze was born into a noble family in Kutaisi. He graduated from Kutaisi gymnasium (1882). He studied at Novorossiysk University and Kharkiv Veterinary Institute, he was expelled from both for participating in the student movement. In 1892, he was a founder of Mesame-dasi (Third Group) the first Transcaucasian social democratic organization. In 1898, Chkheidze joined the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP) together with the Mesame-dasi. At the end of the 1890s, he made first translation of the “Manifesto of the Communist Party” into Georgian. Since 1903, he was a Menshevik. He took part in the revolution of 1905–1907. He was an MP of the Third State Duma, Head of the Menshevik faction in the Fourth State Duma. During World War I, he advocated the involvement of workers in the military-industrial committees.

Chkheidze was an active participant in the February Revolution of 1917. On February 27, he became a member of the Provisional Executive Committee of Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ Deputies (elected as its chairman) and the Provisional Committee of the State Duma. In February–September 1917, he was Chairman of Petrograd Soviet of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies. In June–October 1917, he was Chairman of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee (VTsIK) of the Soviets. Chkheidze pursued the policy of the Mensheviks and Socialist Revolutionaries leaderships and supported the Provisional Government.

In September 1917, after Petrograd Soviet adopted Bolsheviks resolution “On Power”, he resigned, giving way to Leon Trotsky as Chairman. He left for Georgia. His attitude to the October coup of 1917 was negative.

In February–May 1918, Chkheidze held the post of Chairman of the Transcaucasian Seim, convened from among the deputies elected to the All-Russian Constituent Assembly, and representatives of national political parties, including the Georgian Social Democrats. In April–May 1918, he was president of the Transcaucasian Democratic Federal Republic.

After the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on May 26, 1918, and the proclamation of the Georgian Democratic Republic, he was elected Chairman of the Republic’s highest legislative body, the National Council (since October, Parliament). In March 1919 – February 1921, Chkheidze was Chairman of the Constituent Assembly of Georgia. In 1919, together with Irakli Tsereteli Chkheidze headed the Georgian delegation that took part in the Paris Peace Conference.

In 1921, after the entry of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army into Georgia (“Sovietization of Georgia”), he emigrated to France. He participated in the work of the émigré Menshevik organization, and was the member of the Georgian government in exile. Chkheidze committed suicide.