William Parkinson Wilson

William Parkinson Wilson (late 1825 – 11 September 1874) was an astronomer and professor of mathematics who was born in England but spent most of his career in Australia.

Life and career William Parkinson Wilson was born in Peterborough, Northamptonshire to John Wilson, a silversmith, and his wife Elizabeth (née Parkinson). He attended Cathedral Grammar School in Peterborough and in 1843 won a scholarship to St John's College, Cambridge where he earned his BA (and was senior wrangler) in 1847. In 1849 he became First Professor of Mathematics at Queen's College, Belfast (later Queen's University Belfast). During his six years there he worked tirelessly to establish a Queens College astronomical observatory.

In 1855 he moved to Australia and, along with William Hearn, became one of the four founding professors of the University of Melbourne.