Christopher Wilson (1731–1804) was an English merchant and banker in

Kendal Kendal, once Kirkby in Kendal or Kirkby Kendal, is a market town and civil parish in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria, England, south-east of Windermere and north of Lancaster. Historically in Westmorland, it lies within the dale of th ...

Life

He was the eldest son of Thomas Wilson of

Natland Natland is a village and civil parish about two miles (3 km) south of Kendal in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria, England, close to the village of Oxenholme. In the United Kingdom Census 2001, 2001 census the parish had a population o ...

, a hosier, and Ellen Burrough or Burrow. He inherited land and property from his father. Going into business himself as a hosier, he started to invest in linsey manufacture by 1766. From beginnings buying fleeces to dye, he built up a merchant connection in textiles, and

gunpowder Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, carbon (in the form of charcoal) and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). ...

, though partnerships, sales travellers, and exports. Wilson built Blindbeck House in Kendal, and his family moved there in 1785. Wilson founded the Kendal Bank (Maude, Wilson & Crewdson), with Joseph Maude and Thomas Crewdson, on 1 January 1788 (Crewdson was a cousin to Wilson). This bank opened in Farrers House, Stramongate (moving to Highgate in 1792) simultaneously with John Wakefield's bank; the two banks merged in 1840. Wilson served as

alderman An alderman is a member of a Municipal government, municipal assembly or council in many Jurisdiction, jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council membe ...

of Kendal, being mayor in 1798–9.

Family

Wilson married in 1757 Margaret Parke, daughter of Thomas and Hannah Parke of

Low Row Low Row is a village in Swaledale, in the Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire, England. It lies about 3 miles west of Reeth and is between Healaugh and Gunnerside. It is part of the Richmondshire parish Melbecks. It is a linear village running a ...

, and sister of Thomas Parke of

Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...

. They had two sons, one being

Christopher Christopher is the English language, English version of a Europe-wide name derived from the Greek language, Greek name Χριστόφορος (''Christophoros'' or ''Christoforos''). The constituent parts are Χριστός (''Christós''), "Jesus ...

, and three daughters.Satchell and Wilson p. 15 and p. 53. Gardner-Portrait-of-Eleanor-Wilson

References

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Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Christopher 1731 births 1804 deaths English merchants English bankers People from Natland