SIR ROBERT THOMAS WILSON, M. P.

K.M.T. T.&S. ST.A.&ST.G. B.E. &c.

THIS hero, son of Mr. Benjamin Wilson, a distinguished historical and portrait painter, after being some time at the desk of a respectable solicitor, joined, as a volunteer, the army under the Duke of York in Flanders, in 1793, and was appointed Cornet in the 15th dragoons, in April 1794. He served all those campaigns, and was present at the principal battles and actions till the return of the cavalry. For his conduct in the action at Villers en Couche, the 24th April 1794, he received from the Emperor of Austria the gold medal and ribband of Maria Theresa, accompanied with a gold chain. The 31st of October 1794, he was appointed Lieutenant, and Captain in the same year. He served on the Staff as Aid-de-Camp to Major-General St. John during the rebellion in Ireland; and in 1799, went to Holland, and was present at all the considerable actions. In June 1800, he succeeded to a Majority in Hompesch's mounted riflemen. He went through Germany and Italy by Marmora and Cyprus to Egypt, and was present in all the battles and actions of the campaign in the latter country; he afterwards embarked with the expedition for Corfu. In February 1802, he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel in Hompesch's corps, and in October placed on half-pay. He served as Inspecting Field-Officer of Yeomanry Cavalry to the Counties of Devon, Somerset, and part of Cornwall. In August 1804, he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel in the 19th light dragoons; in March 1805, he

was removed to the 20th, and went to the Brazils and Cape of Good Hope; he was present at the capture at the latter place. He next accompanied Lord Hutchinson to the Continent, and was attached to the combined armies, and present in all the operations, battles, and actions, from the one at Puitusk to that of Freidland inclusive; he returned from thence through St. Petersburg, and was immediately sent back to the latter place on a special mission; and came to England in December 1807. The Portuguese Minister in London, having in 1808, proposed that the Portuguese refugees in this country should be embodied under British officers, and sent to Portugal, Sir Robert Wilson was selected to superintend this levy. In August of that year, Sir Robert went to Portugal. He raised and formed the Royal Lusitanian Legion, and was engaged in various encounters with the enemy in Castille and Estremadura, during and for several months after the retreat of the British from Spain. He was ordered by General Cuesta and Marshal Beresford to take the command of a corps of 10,000 men on the Tietar; but the battle of Midellin frustrating that arrangement, he was afterwards directed to take the command of the advanced guard of Marshal Beresford's army, in pursuit of Marshal Soult: subsequently, he was ordered into Spain by Sir Arthur Wellesley to command a legion and a Spanish Brigade, and formed the advance of the combined army. He was engaged in various encounters, and penetrated within nine miles of Madrid. At the battle of Talavera, he was posted with infantry and guns, but without cavalry, two miles in rear of the enemy's centre, within half a mile of his head quarters, and finally cut off; but saved the corps under his command by passing the mountains, and at Bainos fought the engmy, 12,000 infantry and 1500 cavalry and 30 guns, for nine hours, having under his command

neither guns nor cavalry, and 3000 infantry, of which 2200 kept posts that covered passes. Sir Robert's guns were saved; but marched by another route on the first intimation of Sir Arthur Wellesley's movement on the Tagus. From this period to the close of the war, Sir Robert was constantly employed as British Military Correspondent at the head quarters of the allied armies on the Continent, and was present in the principal occurrences in the eventful years of 1812, 1813, and 1814. At the battle of Lutzen, Sir Robert, in person, rallied a Prussian detachment, and carried the village of Gros Gorsahen, of which he kept possession for several hours, until the evening, when the enemy renewed the attack with three columas, and drove the allied troops almost entirely from this position. At this period, Sir Robert received the command of the Emperor Alexander, to put himself at the, head of the Prussian reserve, which having done, and uniting himself with the Russians, who were still disputing the skirts of the village with the enemy, he drove the French back to Lutzen, and at the close of the combat remained master of the contested spot.

The 25th of July 1810, he received the rank of Colonel in the army; the 10th of December 1812, the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the 22d light dragoons; and the 4th of June, 1813, was appointed MajorGeneral.

If any circumstance more than another tended to raise Sir Robert Wilson in the estimation of his countrymen, and of the world, it was that noble, generous and feeling part he took, in conjunction with Mr. Bruce and Mr. Hutchinson, in the escape of Monsieur Lavalette. The circumstance is well known, and will never be forgotten. Shortly after, Sir Robert and his two illustrious companions, were brought to trial in Paris, for aiding the escape of Lavalette; when, after a manly defence, they

were ordered to be imprisoned. It was not to be expected, that Sir Robert and Mr. Hutchinson, being officers in the British army, their govern ment at home could overlook the transaction; whereupon there was a general order to the army, issued by the Commander in Chief, dated Horse Guards, May 10, 1816, in which the Prince Regent desired the Commander in Chief to declare his decided and severe displeasure, at their conduct as officers on that occasion.

At the general election in 1818, he was solicited by the independent electors of Southwark, to be a candidate for the representation of that borough in Parliament, free of expense. This generous call, he immediately obeyed; and after a severe contest, he was elected, to the exclusion of Mr. Barclay, the ministerial candidate.

In an address to the electors of that borough, in 1818, Sir Robert thus states his military services. "He professed towards the Prince Regent his personal obligation for acts of kindness done to his. family. The same gratitude was due from him to the Duke of York for that conduct by which his Royal Highness had gained the esteem of the army. With regard to his Majesty's ministers, they owed to him as to the country, a commodity in which they were bankrupt---juotice. For twenty-four years, he had served his country in all parts of the world, with a zeal which it was not for him to expatiate; but this he might affirm, and he challenged any General to deny, that his services had contributed to the success of some of the most important operations of the war. It was because he would not refrain from uttering the thoughts of a freeman, that he had been the object of their. resentment, and not allowed to share in any of the honors or advantages of his profession. He asked for no favor at their hands; he demanded only his right. He had won them, and they could never be with

held from a public servant without an outrage on national justice."

In 1818, Sir Robert Wilson addressed a letter to his constituents, in refutation of a charge for despatching a false report of a victory to the Commander-in-Chief of the British army in the Peninsula in the year 1809; and which charge is advanced in the Quarterly Review, published in September 1818.

As a member of the British parliament, Sir Robert is always found opposing corruption in every shape, and firmly advocating the rights and liberties of the people. Indeed so satisfactorily did he fulfil the trust reposed in him, that the confidence of his constituents was so greatly increased, that at the next general election in 1820, they again elected him to represent the Borough of Southwark In parliament.

At the funeral of the late unfortunate Queen Caroline, Sir Robert attended on horseback, as a mark of respect to her memory; his conduct on this occasion giving offence, a notice appeared in the London Gazette of September 20, 1821, stating

that the King had been pleased to remove Sir Robert Thomas Wilson from the British army." Afmeeting of the Electors of Southwark, was held on the 5th of October following, for the purpose of raising a subscription to indemnify Sir Robert for the loss of his commission; and on the 25th of the same month, another meeting was called at the City of London Tavern, for the same purpose. The Marquess of Tavistock, the Hon. Grey Bennet, Sir Francis Burdett, Mr. Lambton, and several other gentlemen, were nominated a committee to co-operate with the Southwark committee. In a short time, nearly £10.000. was subscribed for that purpose.

Sir Robert, after having in vain demanded a court martial, moved for an enquiry into his conduct, în the House of Commons, which was also refused him.

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