8 
Sir Jacob Wilson. 
On the retirement of Mr. Brandreth Gibbs in 1875, he was unanimously 
elected Steward of General Arrangements, and subsequently Honorary 
Director. He was Chairman of our Showyard Works Committee from 1877 
to 1881, and from 1889 to the present time. He was also Chairman of the 
Stock Prizes Committee from 1883 to 1881, and from 1886 to 1888. 
He took a prominent part in inaugurating the scheme of premiums to 
thoroughbred stallions, now under the charge of a Royal Commission, on which 
he is the member representing the Society ; and he has assisted in the 
deliberations of this Council in a great variety of other ways. The resolutions 
which 1 have now the pleasure to propose refer only to Sir Jacob’s services as 
Honorary Director, and it must not be supposed that the “ conspicuous services 
rendered during eighteen years ” referred to therein comprehend the whole of 
Sir Jacob’s services to the Society. For a period very much longer than that, 
in fact for nearly thirty years, Sir Jacob has been helping on in one capacity 
or another the work of this great institution, and though he has now decided to 
retire from the anxious duties of Honorary Director, we may hope that he may 
give us for a long time to come the benefit of his help and counsel. 
His Grace then formally moved the following resolutions : — 
1. That this Council has received with great regret the resignation by 
Sir Jacob Wilson of the office of Honorary Director of the Country Meetings 
of the Society. The Council desires to place on record its high appreciation 
of conspicuous services rendered during eighteen years, which services have 
signally conduced to the welfare and advantage of the Society. 
2. That Sir Jacob Wilson be elected a Life Governor, and that he be 
requested to accept from the Society a piece of plate of the value of 100 
guineas, in grateful recognition of the invaluable services rendered by him. 
The late Mr. Charles Howard seconded these resolutions in 
an eloquent speech, and they were carried by acclamation. 
On December 8, the President made the presentation in 
appropriate terms, and handed Sir Jacob Wilson a handsomely 
illuminated copy of the resolutions of the previous day, and 
asked his acceptance of an oaken chest containing a service 
of plate, consisting of a massive silver salver, weighing 200 oz., 
and a tea and coffee service. The service was of an antique 
George III. pattern. 
Scarcely, if indeed at all inferior in importance to his 
services to the Royal Agricultural Society, was Sir Jacob 
Wilson’s work in connection with the passing of the Contagious 
Diseases (Animals) Act, 1878. This Act gave extended 
powers to the Privy Council not only to stamp out contagious 
diseases at home, but what was still more important, to 
prevent their introduction from abroad. By exerting his 
influence in improving the character of agricultural shows he 
had been directly encouraging the breeding of high-class stock ; 
but he was fully alive to the fact that it was of little use 
encouraging breeders to improve their stock unless they had, 
at the same time, some security that their flocks and herds 
would not be liable to be decimated at any time by imported 
diseases. 
With his customary shrewdness he recognised that the only 
security for home breeders was to have all foreign cattle 
