William Wilson

Vice-Admiral William Wilson, R.N., Retired (29 June, 1848 – 21 July, 1921) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Wilson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 19 September, 1867.

He was appointed Lieutenant in Command of the gunboat Cygnet on 24 September, 1877.

He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 18 June, 1882.

Captain

Wilson was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1890, and remained on half pay for a considerable time as was then the custom, though he commanded the survey vessel Hearty in the Annual Manoeuvres of 1890. His ship acted as part of Fleet Number 1 which was itself playing the role of the Royal Navy fending off attacks on British trade routes.

He assumed command of the first class protected cruiser Endymion on 18 August, 1896. He was appointed in command of the second class battleship Anson on 1 October, 1897. Anson paid off on 31 January, 1900, and he then went on leave followed by half pay.

Wilson was appointed in command of the battleship Resolution on 1 June, 1900. On 24 June, 1901, he was appointed to Asia for command of the Portsmouth Dockyard Reserve. He was superseded at Portsmouth on 28 February, 1903, and on 8 March was appointed Captain Superintendent of Contract Built Ships on the Clyde. On 29 June he was placed on the Retired List under the provisions of the Order in Council of 22 February, 1870, and reappointed as Captain Superintendent. He became Admiral Superintendent on promotion to Rear-Admiral on the Retired List on 31 August. He was superseded as Admiral Superintendent on 29 May, 1906. On 1 June, 1907, he was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral on the Retired List.

See Also

• The National Archives. ADM 196/86.
• The National Archives. ADM 196/17.

Bibliography

• "Vice-Admiral W. Wilson" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Saturday, 23 July, 1921. Issue 42780, col B, p. 12.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Robert F. Hammick	Captain of H.M.S. Cygnet 24 Sep, 1877	Succeeded by Hugh C. D. Ryder
Preceded by John Hayes	Captain of H.M.S. Cocktrice 31 Oct, 1885 – 20 Nov, 1888	Succeeded by Fritz H. E. Crowe
Preceded by Edward Chichester	Captain of H.M.S. Hearty 7 Jan, 1889 – 2 Sep, 1890	Succeeded by Gerald W. Russell
Preceded by Herbert W. Dowding	Captain of H.M.S. Canada 31 Dec, 1892 – 9 Mar, 1896	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by John L. Burr	Captain of H.M.S. Iphigenia 8 Jul, 1896 – 15 Aug, 1896	Succeeded by Horatio N. Dudding
Preceded by Edward H. Gamble	Captain of H.M.S. Endymion 18 Aug, 1896 – 21 Jul, 1897	Succeeded by Robert S. D. Cuming
Preceded by William F. S. Mann	Captain of H.M.S. Anson 1 Oct, 1897	Succeeded by William B. Fisher
Preceded by James L. Hammet	Captain of H.M.S. Duke of Wellington 1 Feb, 1900 – 2 Mar, 1900	Succeeded by William Des V. Hamilton
Preceded by Charles R. Arbuthnot	Captain of H.M.S. Resolution 1 Jun, 1900 – 23 Jun, 1901	Succeeded by Alexander W. Chisholm-Batten
Preceded by ?	Admiral Superintendent of Contract Built Ships, Clyde District 8 Mar, 1903 – 29 May, 1906	Succeeded by John E. Bearcroft