Page:Dictionary of Indian Biography.djvu/472

 was a Director of the Society, until he died in 1814.

WILSON, JAMES (1805–1860)

Born at Hawick, June 3, 1805 : third son of William Wilson, a woollen manu-facturer : educated at Quaker schools at Ackworth and Earl's Colne : apprenticed to a hat manufacturer at Hawick, 1821 : removed to London, 1824 : was partner of Wilson, Irwin & Wilson, till 1831 : then was alone, and, with the exception of an unfortunate speculation in indigo, was prosperous and successful in business until he retired, in 1844. Three works published before his retirement from business brought him to the front as a financial authority : he wrote, like a practical political economist, Influences of the Corn Laws, 1839; Fluctuations of Currency, 1840, and The Revenue, 1841 : also, about the same time, he wrote the City articles in the Morning Chronicle, and contributed political articles to the Examiner and Manchester Guardian, for several years : after consultation with Cobden and other leaders of the Anti-Corn-Law League, he established, in 1843, the Economist, which forthwith gained the authority it has always retained as a newspaper devoted to special monetary and political subjects : he wrote, as a "bullionist," on "Capital, Currency, Banking," 1847 : also on the railway mania, the famine in Ireland, and the crisis of 1847 : was M.P. for Westbury, 1847–57, and for Devonport, 1857–9 : made a reputation in Parliament on financial questions, and was appointed Joint Secretary to the Board of Control, 1848–52 : Financial Secretary to the Treasury, 1853–8 : and in 1859 was Vice-President of the Board of Trade and Paymaster-General, and was made Privy Councillor, 1859; specially selected to be the first Finance Member of the Supreme Council of India to reorganize the Indian finances and meet the deficit of revenue and great increase of the public debt caused by the mutiny : held the post from Nov. 29, 1859, to his death : he imposed an Income Tax, created a Government paper currency, and remodelled the whole system of Indian finance and accounts : he had other projects in hand when his health gave way in the rains, and his Indian career was cut short after 9 months' work : he died at Calcutta, Aug. 11, 1860, to the deep regret of Lord Canning and the Government : his statue was erected in the Dalhousie Institute, Calcutta : his bust was placed in the National Gallery of Edinburgh, and his portrait hangs in the Town Hall of Hawick. He was a very hard worker, and had great gifts, a wonderful memory, a well-balanced judgment, a robust constitution : he gave the impression of massive power and firm determination : he was practical, tolerant, active-minded, and clear in his views and language.

WILSON, JAMES (1825–1902)

Educated at the People's College, Sheffield, and for a time a teacher : trained for business in the cutlery firm of Rodgers & Sons of Sheffield : went to Calcutta to establish a direct trade in Sheffield manufactures, but this failed : wrote, for the Delhi Gazette, about the Calcutta Agricultural Exhibition of Jan. 1864 : was Editor and joint proprietor of the Indian Daily News, 1863–80 : was one of the first to draw attention to the impending famine in Orissa, 1866, by placing his information before the Secretary of State, which led to the appointment of Sir George Campbell's Orissa Famine Commission : his Journal for some time had influence with the highest officers in India : he was an active member of the Calcutta Corporation for some years : died Oct. 1902.

WILSON, REV, JOHN, D.D. (1804–1875)

Born Dec. 11, 1804 : son of Andrew Wilson : educated at Edinburgh University : studied surgery and medicine : ordained Missionary of the Scottish Missionary Society, 1828 : to Bombay, 1829 : founded the Oriental Christian Spectator, 1830 : the first to establish schools for native girls, and a native church on Presbyterian principles : specially attended to vernacular education : his College, under various names, eventually became "Wilson's College" : he was transferred to the Church of Scotland, but left that Church at its disruption in 1843 : was Superintendent of the Free Church of Scotland's Indian Mission at Bombay : travelled extensively in the Bombay Presidency and adjacent provinces, collecting MSS., and acquiring Oriental knowledge : President of the Bombay 