WILSON, JOHN NATHANIEL, an English solicitor, settled in Napier in the late fifties. He was crown prosecutor from 1860 and provincial solicitor from 1861. He was called to the Legislative Council (1877), and from Nov 1878 he was a member of Grey's executive. In 1893 he resigned to go to England. Wilson's appointment to the cabinet was recommended to Lord Normanby on the ground that more legal talent was required in the Council on the resignation of Sewell. He had taken no part in politics, but stood very high in his profession, having been leader of the bar in Napier for 12 years. Normanby declined to make the appointment unless Wilson was to take office in the Government and he was appointed accordingly, after some argument.

N.Z.P.D., 1877-93; App. H.R., 1877, A4; Lyttelton Times, 6 Jun 1878; Hawkes Bay Herald, 8 Jun

Reference: Volume 2, page 265

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