WILD, CHARLES (1781–1835), water-colour artist, was born in London in 1781, and applied himself specially to architectural subjects from the beginning of his career. In early youth he was articled to Thomas Malton (1748–1804) [q. v.] In 1803 he began to exhibit in the Royal Academy with two views of Christ Church, Oxford, followed in 1805 by drawings of Westminster Abbey, and in 1808 of York Cathedral. On 15 Feb. 1809 he was elected an associate of the ‘Old Watercolour’ Society, becoming a full member on 8 June 1812. He soon gave up his membership of the society, but was re-elected on 12 Feb. 1821, being made treasurer in 1822 and secretary in 1827; the latter post he transferred to Robert Hills in the same year. The names of his various published works indicate the general nature of his subjects, though the illustrations, being mostly in outline, give no indication of his powers as a colourist. The illustrations which he supplied for Pyne's ‘Royal Residences’ (published 1819) were, however, reproduced in colour after the style of Ackermann's ‘Microcosm.’ The originals were among his earliest exhibited works.
His six series of works on the English cathedrals were published as follows; ‘Canterbury,’ 1807; ‘York,’ 1809; ‘Chester,’ 1813; ‘Lichfield,’ 1813; ‘Lincoln,’ 1819; and ‘Worcester,’ 1823.
His travels on the continent resulted in his ‘Examples of the Ecclesiastical Architecture of the Middle Ages chiefly in France,’ and in a volume, published in 1833, of sketches in Belgium, Germany, and France. A miscellaneous collection, entitled ‘Twelve Beautiful Specimens, from the Cathedrals of England,’ bears no date. ‘Architectural Grandeur’ appeared in 1837, and consists of continental sketches ‘etched by John le Keux and others under the direction’ of Charles Wild between 1827, when his sight began to fail, and 1832, when he became blind.
Wild died on 4 Aug. 1835 at 35 Albemarle Street, Piccadilly, where he had lived since 1820, leaving, besides other issue, James William Wild [q. v.]
[Roget's ‘Old Watercolour’ Society, 1891, passim; Redgrave's Dictionary; Bryan's Dict. of Painters and Engravers; Gent. Mag. 1835, ii. 441.]
WILD or WILDE, GEORGE (1610–1665), bishop of Derry, born 9 Jan. 1609–10, was son of Henry Wild, a citizen of London. He entered Merchant Taylors' school in 1619, and was elected scholar of St. John's College, Oxford, in 1628. He matriculated on 13 Nov. 1629, was elected fellow in 1631, and graduated B.C.L. on 7 Feb. 1634–5, being incorporated at Cambridge in the same year. Several plays by Wild were acted at St. John's College between 1635 and 1637, among them ‘Euphormus,’ a Latin comedy, ‘Love's Hospital,’ and ‘The Converted Robber’; these are preserved in MS. in Brit. Mus. Addit. 14,047. Wild was chaplain to Laud, who presented him to the vicarage of St. Giles, Reading, and in 1640 to the rectory of Biddenden, Kent. When the civil war broke out he became preacher to the king at Oxford, and the degree of D.C.L. was conferred on him on 23 Nov. 1647. Wild preached in St. Mary's before ‘the great assembly of the House of Commons’ on 3 March 1642–3, and published his sermon at Oxford. He was turned out of his fellowship by the parliamentary visitors in 1648, and was sequestered from his living at Biddenden, but continued to officiate wherever he could during the Commonwealth. He preached in London at St. Gregory's on 15 March 1654–5 (Evelyn, Diary), and again on 25 Nov., being the last sermon allowed in a church under Cromwell's proclamation. ‘So pathetic was his discourse that it drew many tears from the auditory’ (ib.) After this Wild conducted the church of England service and administered the communion regularly in a house in Fleet Street (ib. 3 Aug. 1656, 2 Oct. 1658; Mossom). After the Restoration he was made bishop of Derry, and was one of twelve prelates consecrated by Bramhall in St. Patrick's, Dublin, on 27 Jan. 1660–1. Jeremy Taylor preached. Wild resided in his see, to which he was an active benefactor, giving away 500l. a year and preaching constantly (Mossom).
Wild had been considered a wit in earlier days, but was somewhat of an ascetic in his old age. Visiting Dublin to attend parliament, he died of heart disease on 29 Dec. 1665, and was buried in the choir of Christ Church Cathedral. Wild was unmarried, and bequeathed the little he had to various charitable purposes.
[Robinson's Reg. Merchant Taylors', i. 99; Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1500–1714; Laud's Works; Ware's Bishops, ed. Harris; Cotton's Fasti Ecclesiæ Hibernicæ; Funeral Sermon by Robert Mossom, D.D., the dean, who succeeded Wild as bishop of Derry.]
WILD, JAMES WILLIAM (1814–1892), architect, son of Charles Wild [q. v.], was born on 9 March 1814. In 1830 he was articled to George Basevi [q. v.], under whom he turned his attention to Gothic studies, and at the conclusion of his pupilage was entrusted by his master with the designing and building of a country church. Independent practice rapidly followed, and before 1840 Wild had built six churches, including Coates church, Whittlesea; St.
