Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Wilson, William (1783?-1873)

by Edward Irving Carlyle

WILSON, WILLIAM (1783?–1873), canon of Winchester, born in 1782 or 1783, was the son of John Wilson of Kendal in Westmorland. He matriculated from Queen's College, Oxford, on 15 July 1801, and graduated B.A. on 30 May 1805, M.A. on 17 Dec. 1808, B.D. in 1820, and D.D. in 1824. He was a fellow of the college from 11 May 1815 to 1825, and filled the offices of dean and bursar in 1822. In 1829 he was senior proctor. He was ordained deacon in 1805 and priest in 1808, and in 1808 was curate of Colne Engaine in Essex. He was appointed headmaster of St. Bees grammar school on 5 Jan. 1811, and during his tenure of this office discovered grave abuses in the affairs of the school, especially in regard to the lease of the coal royalty in 1742. His efforts to obtain redress rendered his position untenable, and he was driven by the persecution of the governors to resign his post on 20 May 1816; but he had a large share in calling Lord Brougham's attention to the mismanagement of educational charities, and thus in bringing about their reform. In regard to the mining royalty, Sir William Lowther, second earl of Lonsdale, the representative of the original grantee, was ordered in 1827, by a decree of the lord chancellor, to pay into court 5,000l. for the benefit of the school.

On 28 July 1824 Wilson was instituted, on the presentation of Queen's College, to the vicarage of Holy Rood, Southampton, a benefice which he retained till his death. On 3 Feb. 1832 he was collated to the second stall in Winchester Cathedral. As canon he gave very effectual assistance to John Bird Sumner [q. v.] in the work of the diocese. In 1850 he published ‘The Bible Student's Guide to the more correct understanding of the Old Testament by reference to the Original Hebrew’ (London, 4to), a second edition of which appeared in 1866 under the title ‘An English, Hebrew, and Chaldee Lexicon and Concordance to the more correct understanding of the English Translation of the Old Testament by reference to the Original Hebrew’ (London, 4to). Wilson was a considerable Hebrew scholar, and his work has not yet been superseded. He died on 22 Aug. 1873 in The Close, Winchester, and was buried on 27 Aug. at Preston Candover. In February 1830, at Godalming, Surrey, he married Maria (1794–1834), daughter of Robert Sumner, vicar of Kenilworth, and sister of John Bird Sumner, archbishop of Canterbury, and Charles Richard Sumner [q. v.], bishop of Winchester (Gent. Mag. 1830, i. 266). By her he had a son, Sumner Wilson, who became vicar of Preston Candover.

Besides the work mentioned he published:

1. ‘D. J. Juvenalis Satiræ, cum notis Anglicis, expurgatæ,’ London, 1815, 12mo.
2. ‘The Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England, illustrated by copious Extracts from the Liturgy, Homilies, Nowell's Catechism, and Jewell's Apology, and confirmed by numerous Passages of Scripture,’ Oxford, 1821, 8vo; enlarged ed. Oxford, 1840, 8vo.
3. ‘Parochial Sermons,’ Oxford, 1826, 8vo.
4. ‘The Attributes of God,’ selections from Charnock, Goodwin, Bates, and Wishart, London, 1835, 8vo; republished 1836 in ‘The Christian Family Library,’ vol. xv.
5. ‘The Book of Psalms, with an Exposition Evangelical, Typical, and Prophetical of the Christian Dispensation,’ London, 1860, 2 vols. 8vo.

He edited the ‘Christianæ Pietatis Institutio’ of Alexander Nowell, London, 1817, 12mo.

[Information kindly given by the Provost of Queen's College, Oxford; Jackson's Papers and Pedigrees mainly relating to Cumberland and Westmorland, 1892, ii. 217–21; Guardian, 27 Aug. 1873; Hampshire Chronicle, 23 and 30 Aug. 1873; Sumner's Life of Charles Richard Sumner, 1876, p. 1; Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1715–1886; Foster's Index Eccles.; Allibone's Dict. of Engl. Lit.]

E. I. C.