Name John Wilson | ||
John Wilson (c.1765–1819) was Lieutenant Governor of Lower Canada in 1816.
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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.
Wilson was Colonel of the 4th Ceylon Regiment in 1810. He was successor to Sir Thomas Maitland as governor of Ceylon in 1811, having arrived with Maitland, following his appointment of 25 March 1805 as Deputy Quartermaster-General in Ceylon on the East Indiaman Windham. From 23 November 1810 he was Brigadier-General, and was Lieutenant-Governor from 19 March 1811 to 10 March 1812, when Robert Brownrigg.
In 1815 Wilson was selected to govern Canada in place of George Prévost.
With rank Major-General, Wilson administered Lower Canada from 21 May to 21 July 1816. He arrived late to relieve his predecessor, Gordon Drummond had taken over, and the two quarrelled.
Wilson returned to the United Kingdom from Canada and suffered about 18 months bad health, dying on 18 January 1819, at age 54. His will was granted probate on 1 March 1819, describing him as of Hatheridge, Northumberland.
Family
Wilson married Margaret Oswald, daughter of George Oswald. A son Thomas Maitland Wilson was baptised in Ceylon in 1806; an infant daughter was buried there in 1807.