John Wilson


Quick Info

Born
21 November 1847
Montrose, Angus, Scotland
Died
8 December 1896
Edinburgh, Scotland

Summary
John Wilson was a Scottish mathematician who took over the Rectorship of his father's Academy in Bannockburn and later moved to Edinburgh as a tutor in mathematics and physics.

Biography

John Wilson's father was James Wilson, the rector of James Wilson Academy, Bannockburn, Stirlingshire. John Wilson was an undergraduate at the University of Edinburgh and graduated with an M.A. He then entered the New College where he was trained for the ministry, becoming a licensed preacher in the Free Presbytery of Edinburgh. Wilson did not seek a charge, but instead went to help his father at James Wilson Academy, Bannockburn [1]:-
In addition to his work in Bannockburn he established and conducted evening science classes in Stirling long before work of this kind was taken up by the Educational Boards.
Wilson's father retired from being rector of the Academy and Wilson took charge of the school until 1887 when it was merged with the Public School. He then moved to Edinburgh and became a Tutor in Mathematics and Natural Philosophy:-
[He] soon acquired a sound reputation as a conscientious and efficient teacher ... His 'Notes on Physics and Natural Philosophy', an epitome of physical principles arranged alphabetically, admirably fulfilled the purpose intended, as many grateful graduates can testify.
Wilson joined the Edinburgh Mathematical Society in February 1885, two years after the Society was founded. He was Treasurer of the Society during 1888-1895, then President for session 1896-97.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh elected Wilson to a fellowship of the Society on 4 February 1878. He had been proposed by Philip Kelland, James Sime, Thomas A Graham Balfour, and Peter Guthrie Tait. Wilson's obituary, written by C G Knott, appeared in John Wilson, Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinburgh 22 (1897-99), i-ii.

We give a version of this obituary at THIS LINK

On Thursday, 10th December 1896 the following announcement of Wilson's death appeared in The Scotsman:-
Announcement has bean made of the death of the Rev. John Wilson, M.A., F.R.S.E., 25 Buccleugh Place, Edinburgh, who was at one time Rector of Bannockburn Academy, having succeeded his father in that office. For the last ten years he resided in Edinburgh, following the vocation of a Mathematical tutor. Mr Wilson was a mathematician of a high order, and took a deep interest in the advancement of his favourite science. He was an active member of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society, of which for a number of years he acted as treasurer, and of which he was elected president only a few weeks ago.

He was a frequent attender at the meetings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and some years ago he made some original contributions on "Linkages" to the Society. Mr Wilson, who was for long an elder of the Free High Church, was a modest, unassuming, warm-hearted, kindly man, and his death brings with it keen and lasting regret to a large circle of friends.


References (show)

  1. C G Knott, John Wilson, Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinburgh 22 (1897-99), i-ii.

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Written by J J O'Connor and E F Robertson
Last Update November 2007