Herbert Charles Wilson

Politics Wilson entered territorial politics when he ran to be the elected representative for the Edmonton district on the Territorial Council. He was elected on September 15, 1885, at the age of 25, to become the youngest member of the council. He defeated the sitting member, Frank Oliver, by 120 votes to 111. He remained on the council until its abolition in 1888. That year the Council was re-constituted as an "Assembly" and he was elected to the first Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, along with his onetime opponent and fellow Edmontonian Frank Oliver. After the first three ballots ended in ties, Ross called upon his supporters to vote for Wilson, who was then elected unanimously.

As Speaker, Wilson also helped revise the rules and forms of proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, and served on the Standing Committee on Standing Orders and Library.

Post-territorial politics Herbert Charles Wilson photographed in 1885, about the time he was elected to the territorial council. alt=A posed formal shot of Wilson, who is seen as a young man, though with full beard and mustache. He sits next to a table on which is a book, and wears a long coat or cape which extends well around him. Wilson returned to Edmonton after his retirement as speaker and continued to be an active community member. He served as President of the Edmonton Liberal Conservative Association in 1892, and of the Upper Canada Boys' Association in Edmonton in 1909, the North Alberta Medical Society, and the Alberta Medical Association in 1907. He was also a member of many community organizations and corporations—the Edmonton Old Timers' Association, Council of the College Physicians and Surgeons of the North-West Territories, Edmonton Electric Lighting and Power Company (presently EPCOR). He was a patron of both the Edmonton and Fort Saskatchewan Rifle Associations. Wilson's funeral, which was held on December 19, had a procession that "extended for half a mile [and comprised] nearly one-hundred vehicles". He was buried at the Edmonton Cemetery. In 1947, following the death of his wife, Emily, she was buried next to him. He was also described as "an active, public-spirited citizen" of which "kindliness and geniality were outstanding qualities in his nature".

Wilson Industrial Park in Edmonton was named in his honor in 1975.