Early Life and Career
– Benjamin Wilson was the 14th child of Major Wilson, a wealthy York clothier.
– After his father’s business failed, the family moved to London where Benjamin became a legal clerk.
– He studied painting with the encouragement of William Hogarth.
– Wilson practiced successfully as a portrait painter in Dublin before settling in Godfrey Kneller’s old house in London.
– He built a lucrative portrait practice in London.
Relationship with Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany
– Prince Edward favored Wilson and provided support.
– Wilson was hired by Prince Edward to manage his private theater in London.
– He was instrumental in Wilson’s appointment as Painter to the Board of Ordnance.
– Wilson painted little after 1777.
Scientific Contributions
– Wilson opposed Benjamin Franklin’s theory of positive and negative electricity.
– He supported Isaac Newton’s gravitational-optical ether theory.
– Wilson conducted experiments on increasing light intensity and the duration of luminescent materials.
– He was the first to propose that metal impurities affect the color of luminescence.
– Wilson received international recognition for his work on the electrical properties of tourmaline.
Art Pupils and Notable Works
– One of Wilson’s pupils was Richard Brompton, a portrait painter.
– Another pupil was Johann Zoffany, a future Royal Academician.
– Some of Wilson’s notable works include portraits of Dr. Richard Russell and Benjamin Franklin.
– ‘The Blandy Family’ is a notable work displayed at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley.
References and External Links
– ‘Life of General Sir Robert Wilson’ by Benjamin Wilson provides information on Wilson’s life.
– ‘Memoir of Benjamin Wilson, FRS: Painter and Electrical Scientist’ is another source of information.
– ‘A History of Luminescence, From the Earliest Times Until 1900’ by Harvey E. Newton covers Wilson’s work in the field of luminescence.
– The ‘Dictionary of National Biography’ has an entry on Benjamin Wilson.
– External links to original works and media related to Benjamin Wilson can be found on Wikisource and Wikimedia Commons. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Wilson_(painter)
Benjamin Wilson (June 21, 1721 – June 6, 1788) was a British painter, printmaker and scientist (natural philosopher).
