Wilson, Charles Henry

Submitted by edpope on

10.3.1794 Debate on Muir (at House of Commons) see Mackintosh, Wilson, Dyer & Perry

The first four Wilson entries in the diary, in 1788, have been identified in the GD website as John Wilson 1761-1818, though the person record is just called Wilson and covers many possible Wilsons. For Miss Wilson, Parr's friend in Warwickshire see Wilson, Hannah and for Mrs Wilson at John King's see Wilson, Mrs. The entry above in 1794 may have been Charles Henry Wilson died 1808 aged 52. He appeared in the archives of the Gazetteer newspaper (Nat Arch C104/67 & 68) as a parliamentary reporter. He was admitted Middle Temple 9.11.1786 3rd son of Rev William Wilson of Leney, Westmeath, Ireland. He translated from Latin, German, Danish & Icelandic and his own works include Polyanthea, Brookeana, Beauties of Burke, Wandering Islander and the posthumously published comedy The Irish Valet (1811). C Wilson 9 Grays Inn Sq Boyle's 1797, 1799. He could also have been the Wilson of 15.10.1795 adv at Thelwall's, 19.3.1796 adv at Ritson's, 5.4.1796 at Debrett's, 14.12.1796 at House of Commons (with Ritson), 22.12.1796 at Debrett's, 14.11.1799 adv at theatre, 15.4.1800 at Joseph Johnson's, 3.8.1802 meet Wilson, reporter, 15.11.1802, 26.11.1802, 10.12.1802, 1.2.1803, 3.2.1803,  & 29.6.1803 all adv at Museum & 12.11.1803 adv at theatre, 3.1.1804 C Wilson adv at Phillips', 15.6.1806 adv at Gillies' & 19.3.1807 adv at Phillips but there may have been several different Wilsons in these

In David Fallon's article "Booksellers in the Godwin Diaries" (Bodleian Library Record April 2011) the Wilson at Debrett's is identified in the bar chart on p29 as Richard Wilson MP, though the text doesn't mention him. In History of Parliament there are two possible Richard Wilsons, one an attorney who became a member of the Whig Club in 1785, was friends with Sheridan in Whig theatrical circles, was land agent to the Duke of Northumberland, and briefly became MP for Ipswich in 1806-7. The other was an Irishman regarded as a scoundrel who married well, became MP for Barnstaple in 1796 and went over to the opposition early in 1797 because the government didn't trust him. Either of these could have been the Wilson at Debrett's or at the theatre, but the names Godwin notes at the House of Commons are generally those of other spectators/reporters.