Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/644

WILSON. A few years later he fell heir to his brother's little estate at Llanberis, North Wales, where he spent the last two years of his life. Wilson was the founder of landscape painting in England. Though he painted some of England's rivers and the niountains of Wales, the influence of his study under Italian skies is always present, as is also the manner of Claude Lorraine. His originality lay chiefly in his treatment of liglit, air, and color. His pictures usually contain distant hills and classic ruins beyond placid water, with a foreground of trees. 'The National Gallery con- tains three fine examples, several are in the Vernon collection, and two are in the Metro- politan Museum of New York City.

WILSON, Sir Kobert Thomas (1777-1849). An English general and military writer; born in London and educated at Westminster and at Wincliester. When scarcely seventeen he served with distinction as a volunteer under the Duke of York in Belgium. He was appointed to com- mand the small force of cavalry which served under Sir Ralpli Abercromby in Egypt, and at the conquest of the Cape of CJood Hope in 1806 he again commanded a small cavalry force. As a member of the staff of Lord Hutchinson, he was present at the battle of Eylau (q.v.), in 1807. Under Wellington he commanded a Span- ish brigade at the battle of Talavera, in 1S09. As British representative with the Russian army in the campaign of 1812, Wilson fought against the French in the battle of Smolensk, and participated in several engagements during the French retreat. At Lutzen (1813) he took com- mand of the Prussian reserve, and at a crisis of the battle succeeded in checking the enemy. At Bautzen he also distinguished himself, and a day or two after, the Emperor of Paissia presented to him publicly the cross of the Order of Saint George.

In 1841 he attained the rank of general; and from 1842 to 1849 he held the post of Governor of Gibraltar. In 1818-31 he sat in Parliament as a Liberal for Southwark. His publications in- clude: An Inquiry into the ililitarij Force of the British Empire (1804); Campaigns in Poland, uith Remarks on the Russian Army (1811) ; and a Sketch of the Military Poircr of Itussia (1817). His nophew, the Rev. Herbert Randolph, edited his i)rivate diaries (1861), and a Life (1863), biisod on autobiographical materials.

WILSON, Sir RoLMD Kny-et (1840—). An English lawyer, born at Swaffham, Norfolk, and educated at'Eton College and at King's College, Candjridge. He became well known for his valu- able treatises on legal subjects, especially Anglo- Indian practice. Among his publications are: .4 Short History of Modern English Law (1874) ; An Introduction to the Study of Anglo-Muham- madan Law (1894) ; and A Digest of Anylo-Mu- huinmudun Law (1895).

WILSON, Thomas (c.1525-81). An English statesman and philologist. He was educated at Eton and at King's College, Cambridge, became tutor to the sons of the Duke of Suffolk, left England in 1.5.53, and, ignoring Queen Mary's snnunons to return, was, probably :it her instigation, confined in the prison of the Inquisition on a charge of heresy till 1.555, when he escaped through the action of an avenging mob breaking open the prison and releasing the suspects. He returned to England when Elizabeth came to the throne, and became her private secretary in 1558. He was made ambassador to the Netherlands in 1576; became a Secretary of State the next year, and Dean of Durham in 1579. He wrote: The liule of Reason, conteinynge the Arte of Logique ( 1551 ) ; The Arte of Rhetorique ( probably 1551 ) , one of the earliest English treatises on rhetoric; Discourse uppon TJsurye (1572) ; and other works. He translated a part of Demosthenes (1570). WILSON, Thomas (1663-1755). An Engli=h bishop. Iiorn at Burton, in Chesliire. and educated at Trinity College, Dublin. He was appointed chaplain to William, ninth Earl of Derby, and tutor to his only son. In such esteem did Lord Derby hold him that the next year he offered him the rich living of Badsworth, which Wilson would not accept because of his disapproval of non-resi- dent rectors. Toward the end of 16!t7 Lord Derby insisted upon his taking the Bishopric of Sodor and Man, and he was consecrated early in 1698. He was strict in discipline and is perhaps best known for the unusual exercise of his rights as head of the ecclesiastical courts. Between 1713 and 1736 this led him into frequent collisions with the Governor, and in 1722 he was imprisoned in Castle Rushen for two months. To repay for this the King offered him the Bi.shopric of Exeter, which he refused. Among his writings were: The Principles and Duties of Christianity 1 1099) ; A Short and Plain Instrvction for the Better Un- derstanding of the Lord's Supper (1736) ; Essay Toward an Instruction for the Indians (1740) ; and Sacra Prii-ata (1781). Consult the Life by Keble (Oxford, 1847-63) ; and Stubbs, History of the University of Dublin (London, 1889).

WILSON, (1801-60). An English poet and publisher, born in Perthshire. At the age of twenty-two he became editor of the Lit- erary Olio at Dundee, and in 1826 removed to Edinburgh, where he established himself in busi- ness and was a member of the literary circle of Christopher North. In 1832 he came to America and became a bookseller and publisher at Pough- keepsie. N. Y". He was the father of Gen. James Grant Wilson. He was a lifelong con- tributor of verse to the reviews of England and America, but never published his poetry in book form. A selection, edited by B. J. Lossing, ap- peared, however, in 1869.

WILSON. William Dexter (1816-1900). An American clergyman and philosopher, born in Stoddard, N. H. He entered tlie theological de- ])artment of Harvard University in 1S35; was ordained in the Protestant Episcopal Church in 1842; was made professor of history and of phi- losophy in Geneva College (18.50), and of phi- losophy in Cornell University (1868-86), and emeritus professor at Cornell from 1886 to his death. His leading works are: Elementary Treatise on Logic (1856); Lectures on the Psychology of Thought and Action (1871); Text-hook of Logic (1872); First Principles of Political Economy (1875); The Foundations of Religions Belief (1883); Theories of Knowledge, Historically Considered [^S'.)).

WILSON, William Lyne (1843-1900). An Americnn political leader and educator, born in dcllerson County. Va. He graduated at Columbian College at Washington, V). C. in I860; then studied for a year at the University of Virginia;