Arthur Wilson (shipping)
Encyclopedia
Arthur Wilson was a prominent English
ship-owner who is best known for playing host to his friend Albert Edward, Prince of Wales
at his home Tranby Croft
, the scene of the Royal Baccarat Scandal
.
, Yorkshire
. His father was Thomas Wilson
, owner of the Thomas Wilson Sons & Co.
shipping business. His brother was Charles Henry Wilson
, who was later created Baron Nunburnholme
.
Like his brother, he was educated at Kingston College
. He was associated with Charles throughout his life, and became the head of the business after his brother's death in 1907. Before this, he served as director of the North Eastern Railway
, and chairman of the shipping committee of the Hull Chamber of Commerce. He became High Sheriff of Yorkshire
for 1891.
Wilson's son Arthur
entered Parliament as a Unionist for the Holderness division of Yorkshire
in 1900. Wilson himself was active in protecting the Liberal
interest in Yorkshire, but spoke against Gladstone
's Home Rule bill, and joined the Liberal Unionist
s. In 1909, he spoke in favour of Tariff reform.
In 1907, he became head of the shipping business following the death of his brother, Charles Wilson, 1st Baron Nunburnholme
.
He died of cancer, two years later.
Wilson was a generous benefactor to Hull
, and is especially remembered for the Victoria Children's Hospital, for which he served as Chairman.
in 1890, to Albert Edward, Prince of Wales
. During the Prince's stay, one of the party, William Gordon-Cumming
, was accused of cheating at the game of Baccarat
, which was illegal in England at the time. Several members of Wilson's household at Tranby Croft claimed to have independently witnessed Gordon-Cumming cheating at the game, and when this was brought to the attention of the Prince, Gordon-Cumming signed a document promising never to play cards in the future. This event remained secret for a time, but it was eventually revealed to the press. As a result, Gordon-Cumming attempted to bring the accusers, including Wilson, to trial on the charge of defamation.
Gordon-Cumming lost the court case, but it brought the Prince much bad publicity, and he never returned to Tranby Croft
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
ship-owner who is best known for playing host to his friend Albert Edward, Prince of Wales
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
at his home Tranby Croft
Tranby Croft
Tranby Croft is a large country house and estate at Anlaby, near Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The mansion is now a co-educational, independent day school, Hull Collegiate School.Tranby Croft is a Grade II listed building....
, the scene of the Royal Baccarat Scandal
Royal Baccarat Scandal
The Royal Baccarat Scandal, also known as the Tranby Croft scandal, was an English gambling scandal of the late nineteenth century involving the future King Edward VII.-Background:...
.
Life
Arthur Wilson was born on 14 December 1836 in HullKingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. His father was Thomas Wilson
Thomas Wilson (Shipping)
Thomas Wilson was a 19th century shipping magnate from Hull in the East Riding of the English county of Yorkshire.-Life:He was founder of the Wilson Line of Hull in 1822 as a joint venture with his partner John Beckinton and two others...
, owner of the Thomas Wilson Sons & Co.
Thomas Wilson Sons & Co.
Thomas Wilson Sons & Co. was founded in 1822 as a joint venture by merchants Thomas Wilson, his partner John Beckinton and two unrelated men both surnamed Hudson. None came from shipping backgrounds but were quick to see the opportunity of becoming involved in the industry. They acquired their...
shipping business. His brother was Charles Henry Wilson
Charles Wilson, 1st Baron Nunburnholme
Charles Henry Wilson, 1st Baron Nunburnholme , was a prominent English shipowner who became head of the Thomas Wilson Sons & Co. shipping business.- Life :...
, who was later created Baron Nunburnholme
Baron Nunburnholme
Baron Nunburnholme, of the City of Kingston-upon-Hull, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1906 for the former Liberal Member of Parliament for Hull and Hull West, Charles Wilson. His son, the second Baron, also represented Hull West in Parliament as a Liberal and...
.
Like his brother, he was educated at Kingston College
Kingston College (England)
Kingston College is a College of Further and Higher Education based in Kingston upon Thames, Greater London, England. It has five campuses in the town of Kingston. The main campus is the tallest building in the town and is based on Kingston Hall Road. The second campus is based on Richmond Road and...
. He was associated with Charles throughout his life, and became the head of the business after his brother's death in 1907. Before this, he served as director of the North Eastern Railway
North Eastern Railway (UK)
The North Eastern Railway , was an English railway company. It was incorporated in 1854, when four existing companies were combined, and was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923...
, and chairman of the shipping committee of the Hull Chamber of Commerce. He became High Sheriff of Yorkshire
High Sheriff of Yorkshire
The High Sheriff of Yorkshire was an ancient High Sheriff title originating in the time of the Angles, not long after the invasion of the Kingdom of England, which was in existence for around a thousand years. A list of the sheriffs from the Norman conquest onwards can be found below...
for 1891.
Wilson's son Arthur
Arthur Stanley Wilson
Arthur Stanley Wilson was a Conservative Party politician in England. He was the son the Hull-based shipowner and prominent local Liberal Arthur Wilson, who was best known nationally for hosting the party at his Tranby Croft home which led to the Royal Baccarat Scandal.At the 1900 general...
entered Parliament as a Unionist for the Holderness division of Yorkshire
Holderness (UK Parliament constituency)
Holderness was a parliamentary constituency centred on the Holderness area of the East Riding of Yorkshire. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
in 1900. Wilson himself was active in protecting the Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
interest in Yorkshire, but spoke against Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
's Home Rule bill, and joined the Liberal Unionist
Liberal Unionist Party
The Liberal Unionist Party was a British political party that was formed in 1886 by a faction that broke away from the Liberal Party. Led by Lord Hartington and Joseph Chamberlain, the party formed a political alliance with the Conservative Party in opposition to Irish Home Rule...
s. In 1909, he spoke in favour of Tariff reform.
In 1907, he became head of the shipping business following the death of his brother, Charles Wilson, 1st Baron Nunburnholme
Charles Wilson, 1st Baron Nunburnholme
Charles Henry Wilson, 1st Baron Nunburnholme , was a prominent English shipowner who became head of the Thomas Wilson Sons & Co. shipping business.- Life :...
.
He died of cancer, two years later.
Wilson was a generous benefactor to Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, and is especially remembered for the Victoria Children's Hospital, for which he served as Chairman.
Royal Baccarat Scandal
Arthur Wilson is best remembered for playing host, at Tranby CroftTranby Croft
Tranby Croft is a large country house and estate at Anlaby, near Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The mansion is now a co-educational, independent day school, Hull Collegiate School.Tranby Croft is a Grade II listed building....
in 1890, to Albert Edward, Prince of Wales
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
. During the Prince's stay, one of the party, William Gordon-Cumming
William Gordon-Cumming
William Gordon-Cumming may refer to:*Sir William Gordon-Cumming, 2nd Baronet , Member of Parliament for Elgin Burghs 1831–1832*Sir William Gordon-Cumming, 4th Baronet , central figure in the Royal Baccarat Scandal...
, was accused of cheating at the game of Baccarat
Baccarat
Baccarat is a card game, played at casinos and by gamblers. It is believed to have been introduced into France from Italy during the reign of King Charles VIII , and it is similar to Faro and Basset...
, which was illegal in England at the time. Several members of Wilson's household at Tranby Croft claimed to have independently witnessed Gordon-Cumming cheating at the game, and when this was brought to the attention of the Prince, Gordon-Cumming signed a document promising never to play cards in the future. This event remained secret for a time, but it was eventually revealed to the press. As a result, Gordon-Cumming attempted to bring the accusers, including Wilson, to trial on the charge of defamation.
Gordon-Cumming lost the court case, but it brought the Prince much bad publicity, and he never returned to Tranby Croft
Tranby Croft
Tranby Croft is a large country house and estate at Anlaby, near Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The mansion is now a co-educational, independent day school, Hull Collegiate School.Tranby Croft is a Grade II listed building....
.