John Wilson (Royal Navy officer) explained

John Wilson
Birth Date:	1834
Death Date:	4 July
Allegiance:	United Kingdom
Rank:	Rear-Admiral
Commands:	HMS Narcissus HMS Impregnable HMS Thunderer HMS Wolverine Australia Station (1878–1882)
Spouse:	Mary Gore

Rear-Admiral John Crawford Wilson (1834 – 4 July 1885) was a Royal Navy officer who was appointed Commodore in command of the Australia Station.

Early life

Wilson was born in 1834 to James Wilson, Chief Justice of Mauritius, and Margaret Crawford. He was the 10th of 12 children.

Naval career

Wilson was appointed a lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1855. Promoted to captain in 1865, he was given command of HMS Narcissus, HMS Impregnable, HMS Thunderer and HMS Wolverine. He was appointed Commodore in command of the Australia Station in 1878.^{[1] [2]}

In 1879, in response to the murders of island traders, Wilson led a punitive expedition on HMS Wolverine against natives in the New Hebrides and Solomon Islands.^{[3] [4]}

He was promoted to the rank of rear admiral in 1881 at the conclusion of his term in Australia.

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).^[5]

Death

Wilson died on 4 July 1885. The programmed launch on 11 July of the steam gunvessel was delayed to 27 July 1885 to allow his daughter, Julia, to conduct the ceremony.^[6]

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

Notes and References

1. Book: Clowes. Sir William Laird. William Laird Clowes. The Royal Navy : a history from the earliest times to the death of Queen Victoria. 1903. W.E. Duits . London. 311 .
2. News: The new commodore of the Australian fleet . 20 March 2017. The Mercury. 17 September 1878. Hobart. 2.
3. http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/naval_sloops_.htm 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
4. News: Cruise of H.M.S. Danae. 20 March 2017. Wagga Wagga Express. 25 October 1879. 8.
5. Web site: Ray Balfour Family Tree. Roots Web. 15 October 2011.
6. Web site: 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. 15 October 2011.