George Wilson

Admiral of the Red George Wilson (4 March 1756 – 6 March 1826) was a Royal Navy officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolutionary Wars. The son of a Chief Justice of Dominica, he joined the navy as a follower of Sir John Jervis on board the ship of the line . In January 1780 he served on Vice-Admiral Richard Howe's flagship HMS Victory at the relief of Gibraltar, after which he was promoted to post-captain. While in command of the post ship he participated in the Battle of Saint Kitts and Battle of the Saintes in 1782 before he was appointed to the ship of the line .

Wilson was given command of the frigate during the Spanish Armament and then at the beginning of the French Revolutionary War, the ship of the line . In Bellona he served extensively on the Leeward Islands Station, taking a 44-gun frigate in January 1795. He was then present at the Capitulation of Saldanha Bay in 1796 and the invasions of Trinidad and Porto Rico in 1797. In 1799 Wilson was promoted to rear-admiral and rose through the ranks by seniority to become an admiral of the red in 1819, however he never served at sea as an admiral. He died at his seat Redgrave Hall in Suffolk on 6 March 1826 at the age of seventy.

Early life George Wilson was born the son of the Honourable Thomas Wilson, who served as Chief Justice of Dominica, on 4 March 1756. Wilson was promoted to lieutenant on 28 January 1776. In January 1781 he took command of the brand new post ship and sailed to join the squadron of Sir Samuel Hood in the Leeward Islands. As such he participated in the Battle of Saint Kitts in January 1782 where after the French fleet had been repulsed, his was one of four ships that covered the landings of the invasion itself. On 13 October 1794 he and Bellona were detached from the fleet to join Vice-Admiral Benjamin Caldwell in sailing for the Leeward Islands Station and the West Indies, which Caldwell had been appointed commander-in-chief of. Wilson continued his successful month by later capturing the French 44-gun frigate la Duquesne, adding that to a tally of ships taken in the Leeward Islands that included several privateers. (Rif Winfield has la Duquesne as a 36-gun frigate instead of a 44.) One of these was the privateer schooner La Bellone, taken on 11 May.

Flag rank Wilson was promoted to rear admiral on 14 February 1799 at which point he left Bellona and the Channel Fleet; he would not go to sea again. By seniority he became a vice-admiral on 23 April 1804 and an admiral on 25 October 1809. He also served the county as a magistrate.

Death He died on 6 March 1826, at the age of seventy, at his seat Redgrave Hall in Suffolk. Upon his death it was noted that as an officer he was 'generally beloved' throughout the navy.

Family He married Catherine Pollard of Ewell, Surrey, on 22 August 1801. Wilson's uncle was the politician Rowland Holt and upon the death of Holt's brother Thomas, he inherited the family home of Redgrave Hall.

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