A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Wilson, John (a)
WILSON. (Lieut., 1815. f-p., 13; h-p., 28.)
John Wilson (a) entered the Navy, 9 March, 1806, as A.B., on board the Prospero bomb, commanded in the Downs by Capt. Gustavus Stupart; with whom and with Capt. Wm. Howe Mulcaster we find him serving, from Aug. in the same year until wrecked on Sable Island 3 Aug. 1812, as Master’s Mate and Acting-Master in the Emulous 18, on the Home, West India, and North American stations. He assisted during that period in beating off, when in the neighbourhood of Puerto Rico, 9 Nov. 1809, a French frigate mounting 32 guns, after an action, fought within pistol-shot, of an hour and 40 minutes, in which the Emulous was out to pieces and sustained a loss of 10 killed and 20 wounded; and on 26 Aug. 1811 and 30 July, 1812, he contributed to the capture of L’Adèle French letter-of-marque laden with cotton, and the Gossamer American privateer of 14 guns and 100 men. He continued to act as Master in another vessel called the Emulous and in the Arachne 18, both commanded by Capt. Wm. M‘Kenzie Godfrey, in the West Indies and Mediterranean, until presented, in Dec. 1815, with a commission bearing date 23 Feb. in that year. His last appointments were, 18 Nov. 1820 and 13 Feb. 1822, to the Surinam 18 and Tyne 26, Capts. W. M‘K. Godfrey and John Edw. Walcott, again on the West India station; whence he returned in 1823.