Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/454

 WILSON

WILSON

re-organizing and provisioning the vast army. His labor was conunendecl by Gen. WinfielJ Scott as "more work in that short session, than all that the cliairnien of the military committees liad done for the last twenty years." He person- ally recruited 2300 Massacluisetts volunteers, out of which was formed the 2'2d Massachusetts regiment, which he commanded as colonel until he relinquislied his commission to Jesse A. Gove. He served jus aide-de-camp to General McClellan for a sliort time, after which he returned to Washington. On Dec. 16, ISdl, he introduced a bill for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, which was passed after bitter opposi- tion and approved by the President, April IG, 1SG2. On July 17, 18G2, he secured the passage of a bill enrolling all able-bodied men, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, and re- ceiving into the army persons of African descent, declaring them free. He was again elected U.S. senator in February, ISGo, for the term expiring March 3, 1872, and at the Republican national convention, held in Pliiladelphia, June 9, 1872, received the nomination for vice-president of the United States on the ticket with Ul^'sses S. Grant for president, being elected, and taking his seat as president of the U.S. senate, March 4, 1872. He is the author of: History of the Anti-Slavery Measures of the 37th and SSth Congresses (ISG.j); Military Measures of the United States Congress (1866); Testimonies of American Statesmen and Jurists to the Tiniths of Christianity (1867); His- tory of the Reconstruction Measures of the 39th atid 40th Congresses (1868); A Contribution to. History (1868), and History of the Rise and Fall of the Slai'e Poirer in America (3 vols., 1872-75). His " Life and Public Services" was written by Thomas Russell and the Rev. Elias Nason (1872), and congress directed the publication of a volume of the obituary addresses that were delivered in both houses (1876). Vice-President Wilson died of apoplexy, at Washington, D.C., Nov. 22, 187.'). WILSON, James, signer, was born near St. Andrew's, Scothmd, Sept. 14,1742. He attended the Universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh and St. Andrew's, and came to America about 1763, re- maining in New York city until 1766, when he began the stud\' of law in Pliiladelphia, tutor- ing for a few months in the college of that city. He was admitted to the bar in 1767, and after practising in Reading and Carlisle, Pa., and in Annapolis, Md., settled permanently in Philadel- phia in 1778. He was first married about 1772, to Rachel, daughter of William Bird of Birds- lx)rough, Pa., and secondly, to Hannah, daughter of Ellis Gray of Boston, Mass. lie was a mem- ber of the Provincial conventions of 1774 and 177.5, and a delegate to the Continental congress, 177.5-78, 1782-83 and 178.5-87, signing the Declara-

tion of Independence of July 4, 1776, although he h:rd been originally ojiposed to separation. He also served as commissioner and supe'-uit^ude'it of Indian affairs for the middle department, 1775, and on several important committees; '"^•as C'.\'Onel of militia, taking part in the New Jersey cam- paign of 1776, and in the interim of his congres- sional service practised his profession. His con- servative opposition to the liberal policy of the constitution and his professional defence of cer- tain Tories resulted in a mob attack upon his house, Oct. 4, 1779, his rescue and that of his asso- ciates being effected by the city troops. He served as advocate-general for the French government in theUnitedStates, 1779; was appointed director of the bank of North America. Dec. 31, 1781; commis- sioned brigadier-general of militia in May, 1782, and acted as counsel for the state in the following November in the Connecticut controversy over the Wyoming lands, winning the case. He was a member of the constitutional convention of the United States, 1787, serving as cliairman of the committee to report the first draft of the con- stitution, 1787, and in the Pennsylvania ratifica- tion convention of 1788, although personally op- posed to equal state representation, eloquently defended the adoption of the final instrument. He was also a member of the state constitutional convention of 1789-90, where he served on the committee appointed to draft the plan for the direct election of senators, and served as as- sociate justice of the U.S. supreme court, 1789- 98. He was appointed to revise and digest the state laws in March, 1791, but his plan being re- fused by the senate in August, he continued the work without remuneration until his death. In addition to his civil and official duties he also held the professorship of English literature in the University of Pennsylvania, 1773-79, and that of law, 1790-98, serving as a trustee of the Uni- versity, 1779-98, and receiving the honorary de- gree of A.M. in 1766, and that of LL.D. in 1790. He is the author of: An Address to the Citizens of Philadelphia (1784); Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States (London, 1792), and of numerous pamphlets. See his "Works" published posthumously (3 vols., 1803-04) bj- his son, the Rev. Bird Wilson (1777-1859). Judge Wilson (lied in Eden ton, N.C., Aug. 28, 1798.

WILSON, James, cabinet officer, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, Aug. 16, 1835. His parents emigrated to Norwich, Conn., in 1851, and James removed to Traer, Tama county, Iowa, in 1855. He attended the public schools in Iowa, and Iowa college, and engaged in farming. He was elect- ed a representative in the state legislature in 1861: served as speaker of the house, and was a Republican representative in the 4.3d and 44tli congresses, 1873-77, and in the 48th congress,