Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 62.djvu/85

  of England’ (1769), Wilson, under the name of Henry Bromley, published ‘A Catalogue of Engraved British Portraits’ (London, 4to). He received assistance in the compilation from many leading antiquaries and virtuosi, including Sir William Musgrave, [q. v.], and [q. v.] In the ‘Catalogue’ Wilson aimed at furnishing a complete list of engraved British portraits, neglecting only those which could not be identified with their originals. He divided his list into historic periods, and subdivided it into groups according to the rank or calling of the persons portrayed. The date of Wilson's death is unknown. His portrait was engraved by Barrett. There is a copy in the British Museum. (1789–1835) [q. v.], the printseller, states that he was a contributor to the ‘Gentleman's Magazine’ (cf. a letter signed ‘A Gothamite,’ in July 1814).



WILSON, ARCHDALE (1803–1874), bart., lieutenant-general and colonel-commandant royal (late Bengal) artillery, born on 3 Aug. 1803, was fifth son of the Rev. George Wilson of Kirby Cane, Norfolk, youngest brother of the first Lord Berners, and rector of Didlington, Norfolk, by his wife Anna Maria, daughter of Charles Millard, chancellor of Norwich. After passing through the military college of the East India Company at Addiscombe, he received a commission as second lieutenant in the Bengal artillery on 10 April 1819. He arrived in India in the following September, and was promoted to be lieutenant on 7 April 1820. He took part in the siege of Bhartpur in December 1825 and January 1826 and in its capture by storm on 18 Jan., was mentioned in despatches, and received the medal with clasp.

Wilson next had charge of the Saugor magazine; in May 1828 became adjutant of the Nimach division of artillery; was promoted to be brevet captain on 10 April 1834 and captain on 15 Oct. of the same year; commanded the left wing of the second battalion of artillery from March to August 1837; was appointed on 2 Oct. to officiate as assistant adjutant-general of artillery; in 1839 commanded the artillery at Lucknow, and in the following year the 5th battalion at Cawnpore; from 12 Aug. 1840 acted as superintendent of the gun foundry at Kossipur until 11 Nov. 1841, when he became superintendent. His management of it, until his resignation on 10 Aug. 1845, caused by promotion to the rank of major on 3 July, was considered especially satisfactory and creditable by the court of directors. After two years' furlough he was posted to the 9th battalion in December 1847, and on 1 Jan. following promoted to be lieutenant-colonel.

Wilson served in command of the artillery in the force under Brigadier-general (afterwards Sir) [q. v.] in the Jalandar Doab during the Punjab campaign, assisted in the reduction of Fort Kalawala in October 1848 and in the capture of the heights of Dulla in the following January, was mentioned in despatches, recommended for honorary distinction, and received the medal (see London Gazette, 7 and 20 March 1849). He served with the horse artillery in the Jalandar from 1850 to 1852. In January 1854 he was appointed commandant of the artillery at Dum Dum, with a seat on the military board, promoted to be colonel on 28 Nov., and given the command of the artillery at Mirat on his return from a year's furlough in March 1856.

When the mutiny broke out at Mirat, on 9 May 1857, Wilson was in temporary command of the Mirat division. In obedience to orders he marched towards Baghpat, on the river Jamna, with a column to co-operate with the force which the commander-in-chief was bringing from Ambala. On approaching Ghazi-ud-din-Nagar on the 30th he was attacked by the rebels in force. He drove them from their guns, which he captured, and fought brilliant and successful actions both on that and the next day, when he was again attacked. He joined Sir [q. v.] and the Ambala column at Alipur on 7 June. The combined force routed the rebels at Badli-ke-Serai on the following day, and then, fighting its way through the Sabzi Mandi, established itself on the Ridge before Delhi. Wilson, who was mentioned in despatches for his services (see ib. 13 Oct. 1857), now commanded the artillery before the city. On the 9th it was proposed to take the place by assault; but a misunderstanding on the part of Colonel Graves prevented the attempt. When, on 2 July, all the reinforcements from the Punjab had arrived, and the effective force amounted to over six thousand men, the proposal to attempt a coup de main was revived, and the details of the assault were settled, but the attempt was ultimately abandoned by Barnard in deference to the criticism of Wilson and Reed.

