John Wilson (Royal Navy officer)

Rear Admiral John Crawford Wilson (1834 – 4 July 1885) was a Royal Navy officer who was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Australia Station.

Early life
Wilson was born in 1834 to James Wilson and Margaret Wilson (née Crawford). He was the tenth of 12 children.

Naval career
Wilson was appointed a lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1855. Promoted to captain in 1865, he was given command of HMS Narcissus and then HMS Thunderer. He was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Australia Station in 1878.

In 1879, in response to the murders of white men, Wilson led a punitive expedition on HMS Wolverine against natives in the New Hebrides.

He reached the rank of rear admiral in 1881.

Family
Wilson's first marriage was to Mary Gore. He married again in 1871, this time to Georgina Emma Blackett. They had two children, Julia (b. 1872) and Alexander (b. 1876).

Death
Wilson died on 4 July 1885. The programmed launch on 11 July of the steam gunvessel HMS Icarus (1885) was delayed to 27 July 1885 to allow his daughter, Julia, to conduct the ceremony.