OBITUARY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2191, 4 March 1881, Page 3

OBITUARY.

SIR JOHN CRACBOPT WILSON, K.C B 1., O B. There has just been removed from our midst one whose death will cause a vacancy in the chapters of two most honorable orders of knighthood, and will still further diminish tho fast shrinking roll of those worthies who served their Queen and their country in tho terrible crisis of the Indian mutiny. Sir John Cracroft Wilson was the son of Mr Alexander Cracroft Wilson, F.R.8., a distinguished Madras civilian, and was born in 1808. He matriculated at Brasenoee College, Oxford, in 1826, and remained a member of the university till 1828, when he received a cadetship in tho Bengal Civil Service. Though tho high position which his father had held in tho Indian service perhaps smoothed somewhat the early difficulties of the young cadet, nevertheless there was that in his character which would have risen superior to any obstacles which might have been thrown in his way. During the Scinde war Sir Cracroft was attached to tho staff of Sir Charles Napier in a civil capacity, and on the 17th of February, in tho year 1843, took part in the battle o£ Meeanee, when, after a bloody band to hand struggle, 2000 Europeans routed a force of 30,000 Beloochees, after having slain 6000. When the Indian mutiny broke out in the beginning of 1857 Sir Cracroft was then Civil and Sessions Judge at Moradabad. Sir John Kaye, in his “ History of the Indian Mutiny,” enters somewhat fully into the detail of Sir Oracroft’s actions in the perilous, nay, almost hopeless, position in which the Europeans of his district were placed. Wo have not space to quote largely from that portion of the history in which Sir Cracroft stands out as the principal figure. Suffice for our present purposes to use Sir John Kayo’s own words, and say that—•“ At Moradabad the twenty-ninth Sepoy regiment (mutineers) was posted. There was fortunately then at tho station a high Civil functionary of immense energy and courage, a man equal to any emergency and capable of any act of daring. Mr Cracroft Wilson was Judge of Moradabad. In that capacity ho had no official control over Executive details. But he had large experience of that part of the country ; ho woa highly respected by the native inhabitants of all classes; and it was with no undue appreciation of his own influence and capacity for good that he applied to tho Lieutenant-Governor to enlarge his powers. The application was promptly granted, and Wilson began his work with characteristic resolution and sagacity.” Tho following extract from a despatch of Lord Canning, dated July 2nd, 1859, will show the estimation in which Sir Cracroft Wilson was held by the Governor-General of India :

“The pressure of the revolt upon these provinces (the Central and Upper provinces) was severer and longer than in any other part of India, Oudh alone excepted ; but while in Oudh our Government was entirely swept away, in the North-West Provinces it retained its hold of many chief points of the country. These were held single and isolated in a sea of rebellion, and that this was possible was due to the indomitable courage, devotion to duty, and fertility of resource which has so marked the conduct of the Officers of the Civil Service of India throughout this terrible time. They have been worthily aided and rivalled by Military Officers on detached employ, and by many gentlemen not connected with the Government; but it is duo primarily to the Officers of the Civil Service that the landmarks of British authority throughout the cistricts of tbo North-west Provinces were not overborne in the flood.

“ It is now my duty to recommend to the favorable consideration of her Majesty’s Government the following officers : " Mr J. Oracroft Wilson, Judge of Morsdabad. I name this gentleman first, because he has the enviable distinction of haying, by his obstinate courage and perseverance, saved more Christian lives than any man in India. Ho did this at the repeatedly imminent peril of his own life. He has since left the service of the Indian Government, and retired to New Zealand, whither I respectfully hope that the favor of the Crown may follow him.”

Nor was Her Majesty's Imperial Government unaware of the distinguished services of the Judge of Moradabad. Sir Oracroft was made a Companion of the Civil Division of the Order of the Bath, and was appointed in 1837-58 Special Commissioner for Trial of Rebels and Mutineers. Subsequently, when Her Majesty instituted the Order of the Star of India, Sir Oracroft was offered, and accepted, the position of a Knight Commander in the newly established chapter. In 1859 Sir Oracroft retired from the Indian Civil Service, and settled in New Zealand, which colony ho had previously visited, and in which he had purchased on estate. The greater portion of his attention since he has been in the colony has been devoted to the development of improved systems of agriculture and stock raising, and ho has carried out on his estates extensive drainage works and other improvements. Sir Oracroft was a member of three colonial Parliaments, and in the days of Provincialism took some interest in local provincial politics. Ho has alwc-’S evinced a deep interest in acclimatisation, and up to the time of his death was chairman of the Acclimatisation Society. From “ Debrett’s Peerage” wo extract the facts that Sir Oracroft married, first, in 1828, Elizabeth, daughter of 8. Wall, Esq., by whom ho had issue; and secondly, Jane Torrie, daughter of James Greig, Esq.