Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/452

 WILSON

WILSON

der anil Mary (McNab) Wilson, He attended the local grammar stliool; was apprenticed to his brotlier-in-lavv. AVilliam Duncan, a weaver, 1779- 82, anil subsequently followed his trade, altliough irregularly, preferring at times the roving life of a peddler. Meanwhile he contributed occasional verse to the Glasgow Advertiser, and published a volume of poems in 1790, followed bj- his famous poem Xdtty and Meg published as a penny chap- book in 1793. Becoming involved in a local disa- greement between the manufacturers and weavers of Paisley, he was imprisoned for the satirical character of his verses against the capi- talists and in consequence emigrated to America. H? arrived in New Castle, Del., in 1794; was for several years variously employed as copper-plate printer, weaver, peddler and finally as school- teacher in Kingsessing, Pa., w-here. in 1802, under the patronage of AVilliam Bartramand Alexander Lawson. he began the study of botan}-. drawing and ornitliology, becoming remarkably proficient in tiie latter science. In 1804, he accomplished an extensive walking tour (subsequently de- scribed in his poem, The Foresters), for the purjwse of making a collection of birds, and on his return was engaged as assistant editor of Rees's " New Cyclopedia," and in preparing for publication his American Ornitliology (Vol. I.. 1808: Vol. II., 1810). The remainder of his life was devoted to the continuation of the latter work, both to the compilation of its material and to the coloring of its valuable plates. At the time of his death seven volumes had been published, and the eighth volume wjis ready for the press, as were also the plates of the ninth, for which his co- worker, George Ord. furnislied the letter-press in 1814. A second edition in tliree volumes, con- taining a sketcli of the author's life by Ord. was published (1828-29), and a third with notes by Sir William Jardine and a synopsis of American birds, including those described by Charles L. B<3naparte (1840). Other editions were also pul> lished. See: Sparks's " American Biography,"' sketch by W.B.O. Peabody (Vol. II, 1839); liis "Life" by C. Lucy Brightwell (London, 1861) and by Allan P. Paton (1803); also '• Wilson's Pfiems and Literary Prose " with memoir by the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart (2 vols., London, 1876). He died in Philadelphia. Pa.. Aug. 23, 1813.

WILSON, Augusta Jane Evans, author, was born in Columbus. Ca.. May 8, 1835; daughter of Matthew Ryon and Sarah (Skrine) Evans; grand- daught'T of Thomas and Martha (Cn-nshaw) Evans, and of John H. and Jane Vivian (Howard) Crenshaw, and a dfscendant of tiie Howards and Crenshaws of Virginia an<l Georgia. She re- moved with her parents to San Antonio, Texas, where she remained initil 1848, the family locat- ing in that year in -Mobile, Ala. Slie was

educated under her mother's tuition, and in 1855 pul)lisiied her first novel, Inez, a Tale of the Ahono. This was followed in 1859 by lieiilah, and in 1863 by Macaria, portions of which were written while she was nursing wounded Con- federate soldiers in a private hospital, which she had herself established at camp Beulah, near Mobile. All copies of the Confederate edition of Macaria that crossed the lines were burned by the Federal general, in Tennessee and Kentucky. Upon tiie announcement in 1864 of the coming publication of the work by J. B. Lippincott of Philadelphia, it was found that a Mr. Michael Doolady of New York city had printed nearly 5000 copies of Macaria; but the latter agreed on cei'tain conditions to relinquish Ids right to publication. On Dec. 3, 1868, Miss Evans was married to Lorenzo Madison Wilson of Mobile, Ala., who died in 1891. Mrs. Wilsons other books, most of them written under her maiden name, include: St. Elmo (1860); Vashti (1809); Infelice (1S7.J); At the Mercy of Tiberius (1887), and A Sj^eckled Bird (1902).

WILSON, Ephraim King, senator, was born in Snow Hill, Md., Dec. 22, 1821: son of Ephraim King and Ann D. (Gumby) Wilson. He attended Union and Washington academies, taught school in Maryland; was graduated from Jefferson college. Pa., in 1841; studied law with Ira Spence of Snow Hill, and engaged in practice in Wor- cester and Somerset counties, 1848-68. He was a member of the house of delegates in the state legislature, 1847-48; presidential elector on the Pierce and King ticket in 1852. and a representa- tive from ^Maryland in the 43d congress, 1873-75. He was appointed judge of the first judicial circuit court of Maryland in 1878. and served till 1884, when he was elected to the U.S. senate. He was re-elected in 1890 for the term ending March 3, 1897. He was twice married: first, Nov. 23, 1853, to Mary A. Dickerson; and secondly, June 2, 1869, to Julia A. Knox. He died while in attendance on his duties a U.S. senator in Washington, D.C., Feb. 24, 1891.

WILSON, Francis Bishop, actor, was born in Phila(leli)hia, Pa., Feb. 7. 1854; son of Charles E. and Emily F. (Craycroft) Wilson: grandson of Ethan Allen and Mary Wilson, and of Benjamin and Mar\' Craycroft. In 1864, he made his first appearance on the stage under the name, " Master Johnny," in negro sketches and dances at Sam Sanford's minstrel hall, Philadelphia, but as his parents were opposed to the theatre, he was obliged to discontinue his engagements. He ran away from home and with James ^Mackin as a partner, played sm:»ll parts in various minstrel troupes, both becoming celebrated as negro sketch artists. In 1878. he joined the .stock com- pany at the Chestnut Street theatre, Philadeli)hia,