John Williams Wilson
Encyclopedia
John Williams Wilson was an English
sailor born in Bristol
to a family with a long seafaring tradition. After acquiring his first sailing experience with his father, he traveled to South America
, entering the Chilean Navy
in 1824 and rising to the rank of lieutenant
.
Having participated in early 1826 in the campaign for the liberation of Chiloé Island
, he became commander
and later governor
of Talcahuano
(1849–1855). After marriage the following year to Doña Micaela Rebolledo, he rose to lieutenant commander. The couple had 3 sons, Horacio Luis, Rafael and Juan
.
He was temporarily dismissed from the service for having defended General Ramón Freire Serrano, when he revolted against the government of President General Joaquín Prieto Vial. He was reinstated in 1838, accounting for his participation in the second year of the war against the Peru-Bolivian Confederation.
Years later, serving again as Maritime Governor of Chiloé, he received through the mayor Domingo Espiñeira the order of the President of the Republic, Don Manuel Bulnes Prieto, to mount an expedition to Magellanes
.
After building a fifty ton, two gun, schooner called the "Ancud" in a location near Ancud
, Captain Williams sailed to the Straits of Magellan, arriving on September 21, 1843 at Puerto San Felipe (Port Famine), where, with the solemnity of the case, proceeded to take possession of the Strait of Magellan on behalf of the Republic of Chile, incorporating it into their territory. The next day the French schooner "Phaeton" put in and, after saluting the Chilean flag, departed for Oceania.
He died at age 59 in Valparaíso
on September 14, 1857. The Chilean town of Puerto Williams
on Isla Navarino
is named after him.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
sailor born in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
to a family with a long seafaring tradition. After acquiring his first sailing experience with his father, he traveled to South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, entering the Chilean Navy
Chilean Navy
-Independence Wars of Chile and Peru :The Chilean Navy dates back to 1817. A year before, following the Battle of Chacabuco, General Bernardo O'Higgins prophetically declared "this victory and another hundred shall be of no significance if we do not gain control of the sea".This led to the...
in 1824 and rising to the rank of lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
.
Having participated in early 1826 in the campaign for the liberation of Chiloé Island
Chiloé Island
Chiloé Island , also known as Greater Island of Chiloé , is the largest island of the Chiloé Archipelago off the coast of Chile, in the Pacific Ocean...
, he became commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
and later governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Talcahuano
Talcahuano
Talcahuano is a port city and commune in the Biobío Region of Chile. It is part of the Greater Concepción conurbation. Talcahuano is located in the south of the Central Zone of Chile.-Geography:...
(1849–1855). After marriage the following year to Doña Micaela Rebolledo, he rose to lieutenant commander. The couple had 3 sons, Horacio Luis, Rafael and Juan
Juan Williams Rebolledo
Juan Williams Rebolledo was a Chilean rear admiral who was the organizer and commander-in-chief of the Chilean navy at the beginning of the War of the Pacific.-Early life:...
.
He was temporarily dismissed from the service for having defended General Ramón Freire Serrano, when he revolted against the government of President General Joaquín Prieto Vial. He was reinstated in 1838, accounting for his participation in the second year of the war against the Peru-Bolivian Confederation.
Years later, serving again as Maritime Governor of Chiloé, he received through the mayor Domingo Espiñeira the order of the President of the Republic, Don Manuel Bulnes Prieto, to mount an expedition to Magellanes
Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region
The XII Magallanes and Antártica Chilena Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions...
.
After building a fifty ton, two gun, schooner called the "Ancud" in a location near Ancud
Ancud
Ancud is a city in southern Chile located in the northernmost part of the island and province of Chiloé, in Los Lagos Region .-Geography:...
, Captain Williams sailed to the Straits of Magellan, arriving on September 21, 1843 at Puerto San Felipe (Port Famine), where, with the solemnity of the case, proceeded to take possession of the Strait of Magellan on behalf of the Republic of Chile, incorporating it into their territory. The next day the French schooner "Phaeton" put in and, after saluting the Chilean flag, departed for Oceania.
He died at age 59 in Valparaíso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
on September 14, 1857. The Chilean town of Puerto Williams
Puerto Williams
Puerto Williams is a Chilean port, located on Isla Navarino facing the Beagle Channel. It is the capital of the Chilean Antarctic Province, one of four provinces located in the Magellan and Chilean Antartica Region...
on Isla Navarino
Isla Navarino
Isla Navarino is a Chilean island located strategically between Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, to the north, and Cape Horn, to the south. The island forms part of the Commune of Cabo de Hornos, the southernmost commune in Chile and in the world, belonging to Antártica Chilena Province in the XII...
is named after him.