Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1889, volume 6).djvu/581

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WILSON
WILSON

administration. In 1881 he attended as a delegate the ecumenical conference in London, reading a paper on the " Influence of Methodism on other Denominations," which was published in the transactions of the conference, and gave great satisfaction. He has also written a work on " Mis- sions" (Nashville, 1882). In 1882 he was elected to the episcopacy, being chosen on the first ballot. Bishop Wilson is a remarkable preacher, and, ex- cept when compelled by sickness to suspend his labors, has been attentive and successful in every work committed to his care. In 1888 he set out on an episcopal tour around the world.


WILSON, Sir Daniel, Canadian educator, b. in Edinburgh, Scotland, 5 Jan., 1816. His brother, Dr. George Wilson, was the famous chemist and professor of technology in the University of Edin- burgh. Daniel received his education at the high- school of his native city and at Edinburgh uni- versity, where he won high encomi- ums. At the age of twenty-one he left college and re- moved to London, where he adopted literature and jour- nalism as his means of support. A few years afterward he returned to Edin- burgh, where he resumed his pen, pursued the science of archaeology, be- came the secretary of the Scottish so-

editorship of the

proceedings of that institution. He also devoted himself to art with much skill and became proficient as a draughtsman. Wilson was offered the post of professor of history and English literature in Uni- versity college, Toronto, in 1853. He had held the post but a short time when the authorities of McGill university, Montreal, offered him the prin- cipalship of that institution, but he declined to leave Toronto. In addition to his regular work, he continued to devote himself to archaeology and ethnology. These he prosecuted with untiring industry, and always with excellent results, his lectures and discourses on those subjects, as well as on history and literature, being characterized by breadth of view and ripeness of scholarship and thought. As an examiner his tact and discern- ment served him well, and as a teacher he at once took a high place. In his capacity of lecturer he spoke with great clearness and vigor, and his public addresses always attracted large audiences. His plea before the committee of the Canadian parliament in behalf of University college and non-sectarian endowments is remembered as one of the most effective addresses ever heard before a public body. In 1880 he was called to the presi- dency of Toronto university, which post he still holds. In 1882, on the formation of the Royal society of Canada by the Marquis of Lome, Dr. Wilson was selected by the governor - general to preside over the second section of that body, the department devoted to history*, archaeology, and English literature. In 1885 he succeeded to the presidency of the society. He has contributed many valuable papers on ethnology and archaeology to the annual volumes of the " Proceedings " of that society, which have attracted attention abroad. Dr. Wilson is a fellow of the Royal societies of Edinburgh, Italy, and Copenhagen, and member of the Royal historical society of Great Britain, and many other learned bodies in both hemispheres. In 1885 McGill university conferred on him the degree of LL. D. Other colleges have honored him in a similar way before and since that date. In 1888 the same degree was conferred on him by Princeton. In 1888 the queen offered him the dignity of knighthood, which he declined for per- sonal reasons. This act her majesty declined to entertain, and on 1 Aug. she issued letters-patent declaring him a knight of the United Kingdom. For many years he has been president of the Young men's Christian association of Toronto, and all schemes of a benevolent and charitable nature have ever found in him a devoted advocate. The Newsboys' home of Toronto was founded by him. For several years he has been chairman of the Ontario teachers' association, and twice he was elected by the high-school masters as their repre- sentative in the old council of public instruction. Besides voluminous contributions to periodical literature, and the proceedings of societies of which he is a member, he is the author of " Me- morials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time," illus- trated by himself (2 vols., Edinburgh, 1846-'8); "Oliver Cromwell and the Protectorate" (London, 1848); "The Archaeology and Prehistoric Annals of Scotland," with illustrations by the author, which established his reputation as an archaeolo- gist of the first rank (Edinburgh, 1851 ; revised ed., entitled " Prehistoric Annals of Scotland," 2 vols.. London, 1863) ; " Prehistoric Man " (2 vols., 1862 ; revised ed., 1865) ; " Chatterton : a Bio- graphical Study" (London, 1869); "Caliban: the Missing Link " (1873) ; and " Reminiscences of Old Edinburgh " (2 vols., 1878). He has also published two volumes of poems, the second entitled "Spring Wild Flowers" (London, 1873), and has written many of the important articles on Canadian topics in the " Encyclopaedia Britannica."


WILSON, David, author, b. in West Hebron, Washington co., N. Y.. 17 Sept., 1818 ; d. in Al- bany, N. Y., 9 June. 1887. He was graduated at Union in 1840, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1843, and practised at Whitehall. N. Y., until his health failed and he was compelled to re- linquish his profession, after which he devoted him- self largely to literary employments. He was a member of the assembly in 1852, and in 1854 de- clined a nomination for congress. He removed to Albany in 1857 on being appointed deputy state treasurer, and in the following year was elected clerk of the assembly. He was deputy clerk of the court of appeals in 1861-4, and afterward engaged in the brewing and malting business. Mr. Wilson published "Life in Whitehall: a Tale of Ship-Fever Times" (Auburn, 1850); "Solomon Northrup. or Twelve Years a Slave," a narrative of the abduction and enslavement of a free negro of Washington county (1853) ; " Life of Jane McCrea," including an account of Gen. John Burgoyne's campaign (1854); "Life of Henrietta Robinson, the Veiled Murderess " (1855) ; and " A Narrative of Nelson Lee, a Captive among the Comanches" (1859). He collected materials for a history of the Six Nations, but did not live to complete the work.


WILSON, Ephraim King, senator b. in Snow Hill, Md., 22 Dec, 1821. He was graduated at Jefferson college in 1841, studied law, was admitted to the bar, and in 1847 was elected to the legislature. He established himself at Snow Hill, and practised with success in the Maryland courts till