Notable South Australians/Charles Algernon Wilson
Charles Algernon Wilson,
BORN and educated at Turnham Green, near London, and on leaving school entered as clerk in the Bank of Ireland. Arrived in South Australia with his parents by the ship "Duke of Roxburgh," July 1838. His father, Mr. Thos. Wilson, became a prominent colonist, and was for many years a member of the legal firm of Smart, Wilson & Bayne. He served one year, between 1842 and 1843, as mayor of the city, being the second occupant of that office. He was a Fellow of the S.A. Society of Arts, which flourished here some forty years ago, and an active friend of educational and scientific movements. Mr. C. A. Wilson's first appointment dates back to September 9, 1846. He was appointed Registrar of Probates and Commissioner of Inland Revenue in 1858, and as Chief Clerk at the Supreme Court in 1876. He was, in fact, the first Clerk to the Supreme Court, and during Mr. Justice Cooper's absence from the colony acted as Master. Altogether, he spent thirty-eight years in the Government service, and during the whole of his connection with the legal profession had to the fullest extent their confidence on the one hand, and on the other that of the public who were brought into contact with him. He was a kindly, unassuming man, having a good word for almost every one, and enjoying the personal friendship of a wide circle of people. Apart from official work, Mr. Wilson took great interest in scientific and educational matters. He was one of the earliest members of the Adelaide Philosophical Society, which was the forerunner of the present Royal Society, and contributed to it numerous valuable papers. He was a frequent and valued contributor to the Press, and his principal theme was the favorite science of entomology, to which he was devotedly attached, and of which he wrote under the nom de plume of "Naturæ Amator." Many will remember his practical series of articles published in the Farm and Garden twenty-two years ago, upon "Insects injurious to our Native Eucalypti." His style was pithy, and he loved the homely Saxon to set off the necessary technical terminology. He was a keen observer, and his writings were those of an expert, whose knowledge was well grounded, and whose opinions were entitled to respect. In this he was no unworthy kinsman of his relative Wallace, the great naturalist, author of "The Malay Archipelago" and many other equally delightful and instructive books. In 1883, Mr. Wilson received twelve months' leave of absence on account of ill-health, but was not again able to attend to his official duties. He died at Kensington, June 20, 1884, aged 66 years.