George Wilson

Notes on Officer

We find no mention of this officer previous to Feb. 1780, on the first day of which month he attained the rank of Post-Captain. In Jan. 1782, he commanded the Eurydice, of 28 guns, attached to the squadron under Sir Samuel Hood, when that officer was attacked at the anchorage at Basse Terre, in the island of St. Christopher’s, by the Count de Grasse. The Eurydice was one of the four frigates that covered the landing of the British troops after the repulse of the French fleet; and was afterwards present in the actions of April 9 and 12, when the Count de Grasse was defeated and taken prisoner by Sir George Rodney.

Immediately subsequent to the above glorious event, Captain Wilson was appointed to the command of the Fame, of 74 guns, and ordered to cruize off Hispaniola, with Sir Samuel Hood, to watch the beaten enemy’s motions. He continued in the same ship on the Leeward Island station until after the conclusion of the American war.

During the Spanish and Russian armaments, in 1790 and 1791, Captain Wilson commanded the Inconstant of 36 guns; but in consequence of the settlement of the disputes with the Courts of Madrid and St. Petersburgh, that frigate was put out of commission in the autumn of the latter year. In 1793, when the war began with France, our officer was appointed to the Bellona, of 74 guns, and for some time served in the Channel Fleet, under Earl Howe. On the 13th Oct. 1794, he sailed from Plymouth for the West Indies, in company with Vice-Admiral Caldwell, and arrived at Martinique on the 14th of the following month.

On the 5th Jan. 1795, Captain Wilson, being on a cruize off the island of Deseada, in company with the Alarm frigate, fell in with a fleet of French transports, escorted by two frigates and three armed ships, one of which, the Duras, of 20 guns and 70 men, having on board 400 troops, was taken. In the course of the same month, the Bellona captured la Duquesne French frigate, of 44 guns; several of the enemy’s privateers likewise fell into Captain Wilson’s hands during his stay on that station.

Previous to his return to Europe our officer assisted at the reduction of Trinidad by the forces under Rear-Admiral Harvey and Lieutenant-General Sir Ralph Abercromby; and was also present at the unsuccessful attack made upon Porto Rico by the same commanders. On his arrival in England, about the latter end of 1797, he was again ordered to join the Channel Fleet, in which service he continued to be employed until his advancement to the rank of Rear-Admiral, Feb. 14, 1799. The dates of his subsequent promotions are, Vice-Admiral, April 23, 1804; and Admiral, Oct. 25, 1809. He married, Aug. 22, 1801, Miss Catharine Pollard, of Ewell, Surrey.