John Wilson (British Army officer, died 1819)

For other people with the same name, see John Wilson.

Not to be confused with John Wilson (British Army officer, died 1856).

John Wilson (c.1765–1819) was Lieutenant Governor of Lower Canada in 1816.

Life

A career army officer initially in the West Indies, Wilson was ensign in the 48th Foot in 1782. He was captain in the 55th Foot in 1794, and lieutenant-colonel in the 8th West India Regiment in 1798. He served in the 21st Regiment in 1804, and was in the 5th garrison battalion in 1805.^[1]

In 1815 Wilson was selected to govern Canada in place of George Prévost.^[2]

With rank Major-General, Wilson administered Lower Canada from 21 May to 21 July 1816.^[3] He arrived late to relieve his predecessor, Gordon Drummond had taken over, and the two quarrelled.^[4]

Wilson returned to the United Kingdom from Canada and suffered about 18 months bad health, dying on 18 January 1819, at age 54.^[2] His will was granted probate on 1 March 1819, describing him as of Hatheridge, Northumberland.^[5]

Family

Wilson married Margaret Oswald, daughter of George Oswald.^[6]

Notes

1. Phillippart, John (1815). The Royal Military Calendar: Containing the Services of Every General Officer in the British Army, from the Date of Their Commission, with an Appendix, Containing an Account of the Operations of the Army on the Eastern Coast of Spain in 1812-13 ... A.J. Valpy. pp. 36–7. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
2. The Gentleman's Magazine: 1819. E. Cave. 1819. p. 184.
3. Dalton, Roy C. (1968-12-15). The Jesuits' Estate Question, 1760-1888: A Study of the Background for the Agitation of 1889. University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division. p. 256 note 32. ISBN 9781442638013. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
4. "Biography – Drummond, Sir Gordon – Volume VIII (1851-1860) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography". Retrieved 23 July 2017.
5. "Will of John Wilson, Colonel of the 4th Ceylon Regiment of Hatheridge , Northumberland, The National Archives". Retrieved 23 July 2017.
6. The European Magazine: And London Review. Philological Society of London. 1805. p. 162.

Preceded by Sir Gordon Drummond

Governor General of British North America 1816

Succeeded by Sir John Coape Sherbrooke