WILSON. (Lieutenant, 1815. f-p., 21; h-p., 33.)
Alexander Wilson entered the Navy, 28 July, 1793, as A.B., on board the Blonde 32, Capt. John Markham, stationed in the Channel and West Indies; where he continued chiefly employed, in different capacities, but principally as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, with the same officer and with Capts. Thos. Louis and Edw. Thurlow Smith in the Hannibal and Carnatic 74’s, with Admirals Lord Hugh Seymour and Robt. Montagu in the Sans Pareil so, and with Capt. Chas. Brisbane in the Goliath 74 and Arethusa 38, until Aug. 1808. He co-operated in the Blonde in the reduction of the West India islands in 1794; assisted in the Hannibal at the capture, 11 April, 1795, of La Gentille French frigate of 42 guns; aided in the Goliath, in making prize, 28 June, 1803, of La Mignonne corvette, of 16 guns and 80 men; and in the Arethusa, besides sharing in the brilliant attack upon Curaçoa, took part, 23 Aug. 1806, near the Havana, in a spirited action which terminated in the surrender (with a loss to the British of 2 men killed and 32 wounded) of the Pomona Spanish frigate of 38 guns and 347 men laden with specie and merchandize, and defended by a castle mounting 11 36-pounders, and a flotilla of 10-gunboats, all of which were destroyed. On leaving the Arethusa he followed Capt. Brisbane into the Blake 74, commanded next by Capt. Edw. Codrington; under whom we find him, in 1809, accompanying the expedition to the Scheldt. From Jan. 1810 until Nov. 1812 he served again in the West Indies, in the Neptune 98, Statira 38, and Dragon 74, under the flags of Hon. Sir Alex. Cochrane and Sir Fras. Laforey; and in Nov. 1813 he joined the Hebrus of 42 guns and 284 men, Capt. Edm. Palmer. In that ship it was his fortune, 27 March, 1814, to assist as Master’s Mate, at the capture, under Cape La Hogue, of the French frigate L’Etoile of 44 guns and 315 men, after a close and obstinate engagement of two hours and a quarter, attended with a loss to the British of 13 killed and 25 wounded, and to the enemy of 40 killed and 73 wounded. He sailed subsequently for Halifax, where on 2 July, 1814, about six weeks after he had been ordered to act as Lieutenant, he was under the necessity of being sent to sick quarters. In the course of the same month he was received as a Supernumerary on board his former ship the Dragon, Capt. Robt. Barrie, for the purpose of again joining the Hebrus. From her he was transferred, 23 Oct., to the Tonnant 80, bearing the flag of Sir A. Cochrane, by whom, having participated in the operations against New Orleans, he was nominated, 15 April, 1815, Acting-Lieutenant of the Lacedaemonian 38, Capt. Sam. Jackson. On his return to Spithead in the ensuing July he was presented with a commission bearing date 2 Feb. 1815. He has since been on half-pay. In addition to the ships above named Mr. Wilson commanded, as an Acting-Lieutenant, the Laura and Ballahou schooners, and served as such in the Arachne brig, Capt. Sam. Chambers, during a period, in the whole, of seven months.
WILSON. (Lieutenant, 1832.)
Bosville John Wilson entered the Navy 14 Sept. 1814; passed his examination in 1822; and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 5 June, 1832. His appointments have since been – 22 Feb. 1833, as Supernumerary, to the Melville 74, flagship of Sir John Gore in the East Indies – 24 Oct. following, to the Harrier 18, Capt. Spencer Lambart Hunter Vassall, on the same station, whence he returned to England and was paid off in July, 1835 – 2 March, 1840, for a brief period, to the Coast Guard – 28 July, 1841, as Additional, to the Iris 26, Capts. Hugh Nurse and Wm. Tucker, on the coast of Africa – 24 Dec. ensuing, to the Persian 16, Capt. Thos. Rodney Eden, also on the African station, where he was superseded about the close of 1842 – and, 18 July, 1844, to the post, which he still retains, of Admiralty Agent, on board a contract mail steam -vessel. Agent-Joseph Woodhead.
WILSON. (Commander, 1845.)
Edmund Wilson entered the Navy 20 Nov. 1816; and was made Lieutenant, 12 Oct. 1824, into the Tribune 42, Capt. Gardiner Henry Guion, off Lisbon. He was employed afterwards – from 30 Nov. 1826 until 1830, in the Columbine 18, Capts. Wm. Symonds, Chas. Crole, and John Townshend, on the Home and Halifax stations – from 3 Nov. 1834 until the early part of 1837, in the Vernon 50, Capt. John M‘Kerlie, in the Mediterranean – trom 7 July, 1840, until the close of 1843, in command of the Cygnet brig, on the coast of Africa – and from 7 Sept. 1844 until June, 1846, as Acting-Commander and Commander (commission dated 2 Jan. 1845) in the Pantaloon sloop, on the same station.
Commander Wilson is senior of 1845. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.
WILSON. (Retired Commander, 1834. f-p., 24; h-p., 44.)
George Wilson (a) entered the Navy, 27 Feb. 1779, as Lieutenant’s Servant, on board the Fury sloop, Capt. Agnew; in which vessel he was for three years stationed in the North Sea; where we again find him serving, from 29 May, until 22 Dec. 1789, as Gunner’s Mate, in the Expedition cutter, Lieut.-Commander Geo. Younghusband. In the course of 1790 he joined in succession the Goliath and Alcide 74’s, both commanded by Sir Andrew Snape Douglas, Melampus 36, Capt. Chas. Morice Pole, and Druid frigate, Capt. Joseph Ellison; he was again, in April, 1791, placed under the command of Capt. Pole as Midshipman (a rating he had already attained) in the Illustrious 74; he went back, in the ensuing Sept., to the Druid; and after serving in her with Capt. Ellison in the Channel and West Indies, he was once more, in Feb. 1793, received by Capt. Pole, who then commanded the Colossus 74. He was present in the same year at the occupation of Toulon; was made Lieutenant, 20 Aug. 1794, into the Blonde 32, Capt. Wm. Luke, stationed in the Channel and on the coast of Spain; and (ill health obliging him to leave the latter ship in June, 1795) was appointed afterwards – 5 Feb. 1796, to the Arethusa of 44 guns, Capt. Thos. Wolley, with whom he continued until 28 Sept. 1797 – next, for about four months, to the command of the Virginia schooner, employed in carrying the despatches of Rear-Admiral Sir Hugh Cloberry Christian and General Sir Ralph Abercromby to the different West India islands – 10 Sept. 1799, to the command, which he retained until Oct. 1801, of the Eleanor hired armed brig in the North Sea – 22 July, 1803, to the Sea Fencibles in Berwickshire – 20 May, 1806, to the Aeolus 32, Capt. Lord Wm. FitzRoy, on the coast of Ireland, where he cruized until sickness, in the ensuing Nov., caused him to be superseded – and, 13 June, 1807, to the charge of a Signal-station near Hull. In the Arethusa he accompanied Sir E. Abercromby to the West Indies, assisted at the reduction of Ste. Lueie, co-operated in the suppression of an insurrection among the Caribs in the islands of St. Vincent and Grenada, and, besides contributing to the conquest of Trinidad and the destruction there of a Spanish squadron, was present, 10 Aug. 1797, in an action of 30 minutes, which terminated in the surrender of La Gaieté French corvette of 20 long 8-pounders and 186 men. He retained charge of the Signal-station above alluded to until 3 June, 1814; and was placed on the Senior List of Retired Commanders 9 Oct. 1834.
WILSON. (Lieutenant, 1815. f-p., 8; h-p., 32.)
George Wilson (b) entered the Navy, 18 March, 1807, as A.B., on board the Texel 64, Capts. Donald Campbell and Jas. Giles Vashon, stationed in the North Sea; where he attained the rating of Master’s Mate in the following June, and became, in Oct. of the same year, Acting-Master of the Childers sloop of 14 12-pounder carronades and 65 men, Capts.Thos. Innes, Wm. Henry Dillon, Fras. John Nott, and Joseph Packwood. Under Capt. Dillon he assisted, 14 March, 1808, in driving on shore, after a gallant action, continued with intervals for six hours, the
