Wilson, GENERAL SIR ROBERT THOMAS, was born in London in 1777, had his education at Westminster and Winchester, and when scarcely seventeen joined the 15th Light Dragoons, and saw some sharp service in Belgium. In 1798 he was engaged in Ireland in the suppression of the rebellion, next served in the unfortunate campaign of the Helder, commanded Sir Ralph Abercromby's cavalry in Egypt, took part in the conquest of the Cape of Good Hope in 1806, and next went abroad on the staff of Lord Hutchinson, who was sent on a mission to the king of Prussia, then a fugitive from his capital. He witnessed the desperate battle of Eylau, and on the peace of Tilsit returned to England. He was next sent to the Peninsula, helped to train the Portuguese army, and under Wellington commanded a Spanish brigade at Talavera. In 1812 he was attached to the Russian army as English military commissioner, and during the struggle which resulted in the capture of Moscow, and the pursuit of the doomed French army, he rendered important service both in council and in the battlefield. Throughout subsequent campaigns in Germany and in France he was present in a similar capacity in the camp of the allies, and at Lützen he took command of the Prussian reserve. After the peace he became involved in the unfortunate matter of Queen Caroline, and was dismissed the army, but afterwards reinstated. In 1841 he attained the rank of general; from 1842 to 1849 held the post of governor of Gibraltar; and from 1818 to 1831 sat in the Liberal interest for Southwark. He died suddenly in London, 9th May 1849.
He wrote a History of the British Expedition to Egypt—the source of the horrible charge that Napoleon poisoned his sick at Jaffa; Inquiry into the Present State of the Military Force of the British Empire (1804); Campaigns in Poland, with Remarks on the Russian Army (1810); and Sketch of the Military Power of Russia (1817). His Private Diary during his foreign campaigns was edited by his nephew and son-in-law, the Rev. Herbert Randolph (2 vols. 1861), who also prepared a Life (2 vols. 1863).