John Wilson (Royal Navy officer)

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

John Wilson
Born1834
Died4 July 1885
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branchRoyal Navy
RankRear-Admiral
Commands heldHMS Narcissus
HMS Impregnable
HMS Thunderer
HMS Wolverine
Australia Station (1878–1882)

Early life

Wilson was born in 1834 to James Wilson, Chief Justice of Mauritius, and Margaret Crawford. He was the 10th of 12 children.[1]

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.[2][3][4]

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.[5][6][7]

He was promoted to the rank of rear admiral in 1881 at the conclusion of his term in Australia.[8]

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.[9]

References
  1. "Ray Balfour Family Tree". Roots Web. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  2. William Loney RN
  3. Clowes, Sir William Laird (1903). The Royal Navy : a history from the earliest times to the death of Queen Victoria. London: W.E. Duits. p. 311.
  4. "The new commodore of the Australian fleet". The Mercury. Hobart. 17 September 1878. p. 2. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  5. "Cruise of H.M.S. Wolverene". Evening Post. 8 September 1880. p. 2. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  6. 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
  7. "Cruise of H.M.S. Danae". Wagga Wagga Express. 25 October 1879. p. 8. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  8. "No. 25041". The London Gazette. 25 November 1881. p. 5905.
  9. "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.
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