George Wilson (chemist)


Prof George Wilson PRSSA FRSE was a 19th-century Scottish chemist and author. He was Regius Professor of Technology at the University of Edinburgh, and the first Director of the Industrial Museum of Scotland.

Life

He was born in Edinburgh at 55 Potterow, the son of Archibald Wilson, a bookbinder, and his wife, Janet Aitken. He was the younger brother of the anthropologist Sir Daniel Wilson.
He was first educated at a small private school at 10 George Street in Edinburgh by George Knight, then from 1828 at the Royal High School and then studied Medicine at Edinburgh University from 1832, studying under Thomas Charles Hope and Robert Christison. He was taught Chemistry by Kenneth Kemp. From 1835 he undertook practical experience at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on Drummond Street. In 1837 he became assistant to Christison. He also served as assistant editor on the "Maga" journal under Edward Forbes.
In 1838 he moved to London to join his brother Daniel, working under Thomas Graham, working alongside James Young and Lyon Playfair. Here he formed a lifelong friendship with one of his students: David Livingstone. He completed a doctoral thesis on haloid salts in 1839 and returned to Edinburgh.
He lectured in chemistry at the Royal College of Surgeons from 1840, and was appointed lecturer at the Veterinary College in 1843. In 1843 following an injury, his left foot was amputated due to ill-health.
He died at his home, Elm Cottage on Whitehouse Loan in south Edinburgh on 22 December 1859 following complications after a cold.
He was buried in the Old Calton Burial Ground on 28 December. The grave lies next to the southmost vaults.

Family

His twin brother John died in 1836.
His sister Jessie Aitken Wilson married James Sime.

Works

Three works were published posthumously:
He co-authored Inorganic Chemistry with Stevenson Macadam.