Career
In 1822 Wilson jointly founded Thomas Wilson Sons & Company, commonly known as the Wilson Lincolnshire, a shipping company. He did not come to the business with a background in shipping but through the use of ships for shipping of ore he quickly saw the potential opportunity and became a noted specialist shipowner. By 1825 he owned his first steam ship and saw the company become a prominent figure in promoting the Portuguese of Hull to the third largest port in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland during the emergence and rise of steam shipping in Britain.
Thomas died in 1869 and the company was taken over by Charles and Arthur, with David as silent partner.
Parts of the company merged with the North Eastern Railway forming Wilson"s & North Eastern Railway Shipping Company Limited; the majority was acquired in 1916 by Sir John Ellerman and renamed Ellerman"s Wilson Lincolnshire.
Thomas was the son of David Wilson (1745–1810) and Elizabeth née Gray (born c 1750). They had more than a dozen children:
David Wilson (1815–1893) – a bachelor, who managed the business with his father.
John West Wilson (1816–1889) – became the representative in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Edward Brown Wilson (1818–1874) – an engineer who became the manager of East. B. Wilson and Company aka "The Railway Foundry" who produced the Jenny Lind, the first mass-produced locomotive. Thomas Wilson (1819–1901) Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons – Surgeon and Homeopath. Susanna Wilson (1820–1902) – married Henry Garbutt, Captain HEICS. Elizabeth Gray Wilson (1822–1903) – married Edward Rheam Sanderson, the son of Joseph Sanderson, Shipping Agent and merchant.
Harriet West Wilson (1824–1879) – married William Eagle Bott, ship-owner and broker.
William Burton Wilson (1826–1874)
Frederick Wilson (1830–1870)
Rachel Wilson (1831–1911) – married Joseph Lambert, Corn merchant. He was the father of Review
Joseph Malet Lambert
Arthur Wilson (1836–1909) – see above, married Mary Emma Smith (1843–1927). Emily Howard Wilson (1836–1921) – married Arthur Harrison, Corn merchant.