WILSON, Sir Robert Thomas (1777-1849), of Charles Street, Berkeley Square, Mdx.

Family and Education

b. 17 Aug. 1777, 3rd s. of Benjamin Wilson (d. 1788), serjeant painter to the king, of Great Russell Street, Mdx. and Jane née Hetherington. educ. Westminster 1786-7; Winchester 1787-8; by a clergyman, Tottenham Court Road. m. 8 July 1797, at Gretna Green, and again, 10 Mar. 1798, Jemima, da. of Col. William Belford of Harbledown, Kent, 7s. (4 d.v.p.) 6da. (4 d.v.p.). kt. of order of Maria Theresa of Austria, sanctioned by George III 2 June 1801. d. 9 May 1849.

Offices Held

Cornet 15 Drag. 1794, lt. 1794, capt. 1796; a.d.c. to Gen. St. John in Ireland 1798; maj. Hompesch’s mounted riflemen 1800, lt.-col. 1802, half-pay 1802; insp. yeoman cav. Som., Devon and Cornw. 1802 – 04; lt.-col. 19 Drag. 1804, 20 Drag. 1805; brevet col. and a.d.c. to the king 1810; lt.-col. 22 Drag. 1812; maj.-gen. 1813, dismissed 1821, restored as lt.-gen. 1830, with effect from 1825; col. 15 Drag. 1835; gen. 1841.

Gov. and c.-in-c. Gibraltar 1842 – 49.

Parlimentarian

WILSON, Sir Robert Thomas (1777-1849), of Charles Street, Berkeley Square, Mdx.

Main residence: Charles Street, Berkeley Square, Mdx.

Notes

This article draws on three biographies of Wilson: G. Costigan, Sir Robert Wilson: A Soldier of Fortune in the Napoleonic Wars (1932) gives the most detailed coverage of his political career; M. Glover, A Very Slippery Fellow (1978) is predominantly a military study; I. Samuel, An Astonishing Fellow (1985) takes a more sympathetic view of Wilson.

Author

H.J.S.

Volume

Commons 1820-1832

Web Title

WILSON, Sir Robert Thomas (1777-1849)

Will

Estates

Oxford 1644

Addresses

Religion