ANNALS 
oF 
PHILOSOPHY. 
MAY, 1816. 
Articte I. 
Biographical Sketch of Alewander Wilson.* 
ALEXANDER WILSON was born in the town of Paisley; in 
Scotland; + and received the elements of a classical education at a 
grammar school of his native place. About the age of ten he had 
the misfortune to lose his mother; and his father, who was closely 
engaged in the occupation of a distiller, feeling the necessity of an 
adjunct in the government of an infant family, again entered into 
the matrimonial state. 
Young Wilson’s father had designed him for a learned profession; 
but this intention, how agreeable soever to parental feelings; was 
not relished by the son, who had imbibed some prejudices, which 
were the cause of the project being abandoned. 
The introduction of a step-mother into Mr. Wilson’s family, as 
is too often the case, was productive of unhappiness. The subject 
of this memoir became the object of aversion, through some un- 
known cause, to his new guardian ; who employed her influence to 
his disadvantage with such effect that the poor lad was compelled to 
forsake his- paternal roof, and to seek an asylum under that of his 
brother-in-law, William Duncan, who resided at Queen’s-ferry, on 
the Frith of Forth. Mr. Duncan was a weaver; and young Wilson, 
convinced by experience of the necessity of self-exertion, applied 
himself with diligence to acquire a knowledge of that trade, at which 
he continued for several years, 
* From American Ornithology, vol. ix.—T. 
+ The year in which he was born could not be ascertained ; but it is conjectured 
by his friends that he was about 45 at bis decease. 
Vor. VII, N° V. Y 
