Rear-Admiral John Crawford Wilson (1834 – 4 July 1885) was a Royal Navy officer who was appointed Commodore in command of the Australia Station.
Early life Wilson was born in 1834 to James Wilson, Chief Justice of Mauritius, and Margaret Crawford. He was the 10th of 12 children.
Naval career Wilson was appointed a lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1855. Promoted to captain in 1865, he was given command of HMS Narcissus, HMS Impregnable, HMS Thunderer and HMS Wolverine. He was appointed Commodore in command of the Australia Station in 1878.
In 1879, in response to the murders of island traders, Wilson led a punitive expedition on HMS Wolverine against natives in the New Hebrides and Solomon Islands.Royal Navy Sloops: History of the Royal Naval Sloops from the early Fantome, Osprey and Doterel classes of the 19th Century to the Bittern and Black Swan Classes of the Second World War Wilson also personally led a raid on Brooker Island which had been the site of a number of instances of cannibalism.
He was promoted to the rank of rear admiral in 1881 at the conclusion of his term in Australia.
Family Wilson's first marriage was to Mary Gore. He married again in 1871, this time to Georgina Emma Blackett. They had two children, Julia (b. 1872) and Alexander (b. 1876).
Death Wilson died on 4 July 1885. The programmed launch on 11 July of the steam gunvessel was delayed to 27 July 1885 to allow his daughter, Julia, to conduct the ceremony.
References William Loney RN
External links
«Departure of the detached sqron from Port Jackson» // «The Australasian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil», Saturday 27 August 1881, p. 278 «Queensland» // «The Sydney Morning Herald», Tuesday 13 September 1881, p. 5, «Rockhampton» // «The Morning Bulletin», Tuesday 13 September 1881, p. 2, «Rockhampton» // «The Morning Bulletin», Wednesday 14 September 1881, p. 2 «Commodore Wilson» // «The Mercury», Saturday 17 September 1881, p. 3 «Commodore Wilson, R.N., to His Excellency the Governor» // «The Argus», Thursday 17 November 1881, p. 9