James Grant Wilson (April 28, 1832 – February 1, 1914) was an American editor, author, bookseller and publisher, who founded the Chicago Record in 1857, the first literary paper in that region. During the American Civil War, he served as a colonel in the Union Army. In recognition of his service, in 1867, he was nominated and confirmed for appointment as a brevet brigadier general of volunteers to rank from March 13, 1865. He settled in New York, where he edited biographies and histories, was a public speaker, and served as president of the Society of American Authors and the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society.[1]
James Grant Wilson was born on April 28, 1832 in Edinburgh, Scotland, the son of the poet William Wilson and his second wife, Miss Jane Sibbald of Hawick. In infancy, he moved with his family to the United States, where they settled at Poughkeepsie, New York. He had two younger brothers. Wilson was educated in Poughkeepsie at College Hill, and continued his studies in the languages, music, and drawing, under private teachers.[2]
Career
Eventually, he joined his father in business as a bookseller/publisher, later becoming his partner.[2][3] In 1855, Wilson started on an extended journey, his tour of Europe and its capitals. Upon his return in 1857, he settled in the growing city of Chicago, Illinois, where he founded the Chicago Record, a journal of art and literature. It was the first literary paper published in that region.[2][3] He also became known as a speaker.
After the war, Wilson settled in New York City. He became known as a speaker, a frequent contributor to periodicals, president of the Society of American Authors, and, after 1885, of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. He edited Fitz-Greene Halleck's Poems (1868) and wrote his biography, published in 1869; and in 1876 his anthology Poets & Poetry of Scotland in four volumes . He edited A Memorial History of the City of New York (four volumes, 1892–93); Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (six volumes, 1887–89, with John Fiske; volume vii, 1900); The Great Commanders Series (eighteen volumes, completed 1913); and The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914 (four volumes, 1914), the work of many distinguished writers..
Personal life
On November 3, 1869, he married Jane Emily Searle Cogswell (d. 1904), the sister of Andrew Kirkpatrick Cogswell (1839-1900) and the daughter of Rev. Jonathan Cogswell (1781–1864) and Jane Eudora Kirkpatrick (1799–1864). Jane's grandfather was Andrew Kirkpatrick (1756–1831) and her great-grandfather was John Bayard (1738–1807).[5] Before her death in 1904, they had one daughter together:[1]
Jane Wilson, who married Frank Sylvester Henry (who died before 1914)[6]
After his first wife's death in 1904, he married Mary H. Nicholson, the widow of his friend Admiral James William Augustus Nicholson, in 1907.[1] He resided at 143 West 79th Street in New York City.[7]
^ abcNineteenth Annual Report, 1914 of the American Scenic Historic Preservation Society | To The Legislature of the State of New York. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, Printers. 1914. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
^Bulloch, Joseph Gaston Baillie (1919). A History and Genealogy of the Families of Bayard, Houstoun of Georgia: And the Descent of the Bolton Family from Assheton, Byron and Hulton of Hulton Park, by Joseph Gaston Baillie Bulloch ... J. H. Dony, Printer. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
^Greene, Richard Henry; Stiles, Henry Reed; Dwight, Melatiah Everett; Morrison, George Austin; Mott, Hopper Striker; Totten, John Reynolds; Pitman, Harold Minot; Forest, Louis Effingham De; Ditmas, Charles Andrew; Mann, Conklin; Maynard, Arthur S. (1914). The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
^Mohr, William F. (1914). Who's who in New York City and State. L.R. Hamersly Company. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
james, grant, wilson, anatomist, james, wilson, april, 1832, february, 1914, american, editor, author, bookseller, publisher, founded, chicago, record, 1857, first, literary, paper, that, region, during, american, civil, served, colonel, union, army, recogniti. For the anatomist see James G Wilson James Grant Wilson April 28 1832 February 1 1914 was an American editor author bookseller and publisher who founded the Chicago Record in 1857 the first literary paper in that region During the American Civil War he served as a colonel in the Union Army In recognition of his service in 1867 he was nominated and confirmed for appointment as a brevet brigadier general of volunteers to rank from March 13 1865 He settled in New York where he edited biographies and histories was a public speaker and served as president of the Society of American Authors and the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society 1 James Grant WilsonPersonal detailsBorn 1832 04 28 April 28 1832Edinburgh ScotlandDiedFebruary 1 1914 1914 02 01 aged 81 New York City New YorkResting placeWoodlawn Cemetery Bronx New YorkSpousesJane Emily Searle Cogswell m 1869 died 1904 wbr Mary H Nicholson m 1907 wbr Children1Parent s William WilsonJane SibbaldEducationBartlett s College Hill SchoolSignatureMilitary serviceAllegianceUnited StatesUnionBranch serviceUnion ArmyRankColonel Bvt Brigadier GeneralUnit15th Illinois Cavalry RegimentCommands4th U S C T Cavalry RegimentBattles warsAmerican Civil War Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 U S Civil War 2 2 Later career 3 Personal life 4 Selected works 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksEarly life EditJames Grant Wilson was born on April 28 1832 in Edinburgh Scotland the son of the poet William Wilson and his second wife Miss Jane Sibbald of Hawick In infancy he moved with his family to the United States where they settled at Poughkeepsie New York He had two younger brothers Wilson was educated in Poughkeepsie at College Hill and continued his studies in the languages music and drawing under private teachers 2 Career EditEventually he joined his father in business as a bookseller publisher later becoming his partner 2 3 In 1855 Wilson started on an extended journey his tour of Europe and its capitals Upon his return in 1857 he settled in the growing city of Chicago Illinois where he founded the Chicago Record a journal of art and literature It was the first literary paper published in that region 2 3 He also became known as a speaker U S Civil War Edit During the Civil War Wilson sold his journal and entered the Union Army late in 1862 He was commissioned as a major of the 15th Illinois Cavalry commanded the 4th U S C Cavalry as colonel He resigned from the Army on June 16 1865 3 On February 27 1867 President Andrew Johnson nominated Wilson for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers to rank from March 13 1865 and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on March 2 1867 4 His middle brother was killed at Fredericksburg Virginia and his youngest brother also served 2 3 Later career Edit After the war Wilson settled in New York City He became known as a speaker a frequent contributor to periodicals president of the Society of American Authors and after 1885 of the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society He edited Fitz Greene Halleck s Poems 1868 and wrote his biography published in 1869 and in 1876 his anthology Poets amp Poetry of Scotland in four volumes He edited A Memorial History of the City of New York four volumes 1892 93 Appletons Cyclopaedia of American Biography six volumes 1887 89 with John Fiske volume vii 1900 The Great Commanders Series eighteen volumes completed 1913 and The Presidents of the United States 1789 1914 four volumes 1914 the work of many distinguished writers Personal life EditOn November 3 1869 he married Jane Emily Searle Cogswell d 1904 the sister of Andrew Kirkpatrick Cogswell 1839 1900 and the daughter of Rev Jonathan Cogswell 1781 1864 and Jane Eudora Kirkpatrick 1799 1864 Jane s grandfather was Andrew Kirkpatrick 1756 1831 and her great grandfather was John Bayard 1738 1807 5 Before her death in 1904 they had one daughter together 1 Jane Wilson who married Frank Sylvester Henry who died before 1914 6 After his first wife s death in 1904 he married Mary H Nicholson the widow of his friend Admiral James William Augustus Nicholson in 1907 1 He resided at 143 West 79th Street in New York City 7 Wilson died in New York City and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery Bronx New York 3 Selected works Edit Wikisource has original works by or about James Grant Wilson Biographical Sketches of Illinois Officers 1862 63 Life of Fitz Greene Halleck 1869 Sketches of Illustrious Soldiers 1874 Poets and Poetry of Scotland 1876 in four volumes Blackie amp Son Edinburgh 1876 Centennial History of the Diocese of New York 1775 1885 1886 Bryant and his Friends 1886 Commodore Isaac Hull and the Frigate Constitution 1889 Wilson James Grant 1893 The Memorial History of the City of New York From Its First Settlement to the Year 1892 New York History Co Love in Letters 1896 Life of General Grant 1897 Thackeray in the United States two volumes 1904 See also Edit American Civil War portalList of American Civil War brevet generals Union References EditNotes a b c Nineteenth Annual Report 1914 of the American Scenic Historic Preservation Society To The Legislature of the State of New York Albany J B Lyon Company Printers 1914 Retrieved March 16 2017 a b c d Wilson J G Fiske J eds 1889 Wilson James Appletons Cyclopaedia of American Biography New York D Appleton a b c d e Eicher amp Eicher 2001 pp 573 574 Eicher amp Eicher 2001 p 761 Bulloch Joseph Gaston Baillie 1919 A History and Genealogy of the Families of Bayard Houstoun of Georgia And the Descent of the Bolton Family from Assheton Byron and Hulton of Hulton Park by Joseph Gaston Baillie Bulloch J H Dony Printer Retrieved March 16 2017 Greene Richard Henry Stiles Henry Reed Dwight Melatiah Everett Morrison George Austin Mott Hopper Striker Totten John Reynolds Pitman Harold Minot Forest Louis Effingham De Ditmas Charles Andrew Mann Conklin Maynard Arthur S 1914 The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record New York Genealogical and Biographical Society Retrieved March 16 2017 Mohr William F 1914 Who s who in New York City and State L R Hamersly Company Retrieved March 16 2017 SourcesEicher John H Eicher David J 2001 Civil War High Commands Stanford University Press ISBN 0 8047 3641 3 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Gilman D C Peck H T Colby F M eds 1905 New International Encyclopedia 1st ed New York Dodd Mead a href Template Cite encyclopedia html title Template Cite encyclopedia cite encyclopedia a Missing or empty title help External links Edit Wikiquote has quotations related to James Grant Wilson Wilson James Grant New International Encyclopedia 1905 Wilson James Grant Encyclopedia Americana 1920 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Grant Wilson amp oldid 1073168984, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
