WILSON, CHARLES (1857-1932) was born at Harrogate, Yorkshire, the son of John Wilson of West Park, and educated at Harrogate College. He gained experience in the woollen trade in Bradford, and in commerce in Paris, and in 1880 he arrived at Port Chalmers. After teaching for a year at Te Aro school, Wellington, and for three years at Wanganui Collegiate School, he took up journalism as sub-editor of the Wanganui Chronicle. He subsequently edited the Gisborne Standard and the Napier Evening News; founded and edited the Marton Mercury, and in 1892 was appointed editor of the New Zealand Mail. He sat as member of Parliament for Wellington Suburbs (1898-99) and in 1901 was appointed chief parliamentary librarian, a position from which he retired in 1926. Wilson was an original member and for two years chairman of the Victoria College council, a founder of the Savage Club in Wellington and of the Yorkshire Society, and a member of the council of the Academy of Fine Arts (and sometime president). For many years he conducted in The Dominion a weekly literary column. He also published City of Wellington (1921), Rambles in Bookland (1922) and New Rambles (1923). He died on 10 Feb 1932.

Cycl. NZ., i (p); Who's Who NZ., 1908, 1924; The Dominion, 11 Feb 1932 (p).

Reference: Volume 2, page 263

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