John Wilson (Royal Navy officer)
John Wilson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1834 |
| Died | 4 July 1885 |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service | Royal Navy |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Commands | HMS Narcissus HMS Thunderer Australia Station (1878–1882) |
Rear Admiral John Crawford Wilson (1834 – 4 July 1885) was a Royal Navy officer who was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Australia Station.
Early life
Wilson was born in 1834 to James Wilson and Margaret Wilson (née Crawford). He was the tenth of 12 children.[1]
Naval career
Wilson was appointed a lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1855.[2] Promoted to captain in 1865, he was given command of HMS Narcissus and then HMS Thunderer.[2] He was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Australia Station in 1878.[2]
In 1879, in response to the murders of white men, Wilson led a punitive expedition on HMS Wolverine against natives in the New Hebrides.[3][4]
He reached the rank of rear admiral in 1881.[5]
Family
Wilson's first marriage was to Mary Gore. He married again in 1871, this time to Georgina Emma Blackett. They had two children, Julia (b. 1872) and Alexander (b. 1876).[1]
Death
Wilson died on 4 July 1885. The programmed launch on 11 July of the steam gunvessel Icarus was delayed to 27 July 1885 to allow his daughter, Julia, to conduct the ceremony.[6]
References
- ^ a b "Ray Balfour Family Tree". Roots Web. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- ^ a b c William Loney RN
- ^ "Cruise of H.M.S. Wolverene". Evening Post. 8 September 1880. p. 2. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
- ^ Royal Navy Sloops: History of the Royal Naval Sloops from the early Fantome, Osprey and Doterel classes of the 19th Century to the Bittern and Black Swan Classes of the Second World War
- ^ "No. 25041". The London Gazette. 25 November 1881.
- ^ "PAD6296 (HMS Icarus screw composite gun vessel of 8 guns and 850 H.P. was to have been launched at Devonport Yard 11 July 1885)". National Maritime Museum. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
External links
- «Departure of the detached sqron from Port Jackson» // «The Australasian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil», Saturday 27 August 1881, p. 278
- «Queensland» // «The Sydney Morning Herald», Tuesday 13 September 1881, p. 5, «Rockhampton» // «The Morning Bulletin», Tuesday 13 September 1881, p. 2, «Rockhampton» // «The Morning Bulletin», Wednesday 14 September 1881, p. 2
- «Commodore Wilson» // «The Mercury», Saturday 17 September 1881, p. 3
- «Commodore Wilson, R.N., to His Excellency the Governor» // «The Argus», Thursday 17 November 1881, p. 9