50 
SOME OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE SOCIETY. 
Hall. Here he soon distinguished himself by the enlarged and 
comprehensive views he took of trade and manufactures, and of 
legislation in relation to them, and was elected chairman of the 
Association of Coal-owners of the Barnsley district. He promoted 
in every way the welfare and advancement of his workpeople, over 
whom he exercised the greatest influence. He was an ardent Liberal 
and Free Trader, and acted as chairman of Lord ^lorpeth's local 
committee. Especially he was one of the earliest to recognize the 
importance of education, and was the friend and fellow-labourer of 
James Simpson, of Edinburgh, Samuel AVilderspin, Sir Thomas Wyse, 
and the still living and venerable Sir Edward Baines, in their efforts 
to spread a desire to receive, and an improved method of commu- 
nicating knowledge. He was an original member of the British 
Association for the advancement of Science. He was one of the 
earliest promoters of the Barnsley Mechanics' Institution. He 
joined a few other gentlemen in founding the Yorkshire Union of 
Mechanics' Listitutions, on the committee of which he served for 38 
years, and appeared at every annual meeting as long as he lived. 
He was one of the founders of the West Riding Geological and 
Polytechnic Society, and acted as its honorary secretary and treasurer 
from its inception in 1837, until September, 1842, when his resignation 
was reluctantly accepted, and Mr. J. Travis Clay was elected to the 
offices. During Mr. Wilson's secretaryship, the society assumed and 
maintained a most important position. He was indefatigable in his 
attention to its interests ; and the correspondence printed in a 
previous and succeeding chapters proves how judicious and pains- 
taking was his management of its affairs. After his resignation of 
the offices of honorary secretary and treasurer, Mr. Wilson was elected 
a vice-president, a position he held to the time of his death. On 
several occasions he presided at its meetings, and when, as happened 
at one or two periods of the society's history, its vigour seemed to 
be waning, or there was a lack of interest in its proceedings, he was 
always ready to give every assistance in his power, and with wise 
council, the result of a long and ripe experience to urge the younger 
members of the society to renewed efforts. After the death of 
Mr. Denny in 1871, who had been for many years the assistant 
