10 Bio^^raphical Account of Dr Wilson, 



In the year 1756, the college of Glasgow, upon the death 

 of Dr Alexander Macfarlane of Jamaica, a great lover of, and 

 proficient in the sciences, received a legacy of a valuable col- 

 lection of astronomical instruments, which that gentleman had 

 got constructed at London by the best artists, and had car- 

 ried out with him to Jamaica, with a view of cultivating astro- 

 nomy in that island. The college, upon this, soon built an 

 observatory for their reception, which, by medals placed under 

 the foundation, was called by the name of their generous be- 

 nefactor ; and Mr Wilson was immediately thought of by the 

 members of the faculty, as a proper person for taking charge 

 of it, and making the astronomical observations. At this 

 juncture his Grace Archibald Duke of Argyle, who had all 

 along continued his patronage to Mr Wilson, more especially 

 since he had brought the art of letter-founding into Scotland, 

 used his influence with government, and procured his Majes- 

 ty's presentation, nominating and appointing him professor of 

 practical astronomy and observer in the College, with an an- 

 nual salary of fifty pounds, payable out of the Exchequer ; 

 and, accordingly, in 1760, he was admitted to this new office 

 by the unanimous and most cordial welcome of all the mem- 

 bers of the faculty. 



His two eldest sons, who had by this time entered upon a 

 course of liberal education, not long after took upon them the 

 further enlargement and improvement of the letter foundery ; 

 and, before dismissing this topic, it deserves to be mentioned, 

 that Mr Wilson lived to such an advanced age, as to enjoy in 

 the most feeling manner the reward of his early diligence and 

 excellent example, in seeing the business rising in their hands 

 to the highest reputation, riot only in these kingdoms, but in 

 foreign countries. 



In 1763, when upon a visit at St Andrews, an honorary 

 degree in medicine was conferred upon him by his Alma Ma- 

 ter. 



Among the objects which now occupied him in the Obser- 

 vatory, his former labours towards improving the reflecting 

 telescope were resumed, and pursued for a considerable length 

 of time, with a view of obtaining some certain method of giv- 

 ing the parabolic figure to the great speculum. These trials 



