Author: WILSON, Captain
Biography:
WILSON, Captain (fl 1834)
Captive Vigils (1834) is dedicated to the memory of Frederick, Duke of York (1763-1827). In his preface, the anonymous author explains (a) that this is his first venture into poetry, (b) that it had been set aside “for years” among his papers, and (c) that he hoped it might have some influence on a projected vote in parliament for a bill that would make all imprisonment illegal, except in cases of crime. The poem takes the point of view of a prisoner in a dungeon. A single copy recently offered for sale is said to contain ms notes consisting of the author’s presentation inscription to “His Grace the Duke of Palmella” and, in another hand, the attribution of the work to “Captain Wilson, Editor of the Star . . devoted to the cause of Her Majesty Donna Maria” (Devil in the Detail). Unfortunately no reliable information has as yet come to light about Wilson. If the Star was a newspaper it was perhaps the London Star, or, Daily Evening Advertiser, renamed The Albion and Star in 1831, but confirmation is wanting. The poet’s profile does not match that of any of the other Wilsons in this bibliography. The recipient of the annotated copy was a Portuguese statesman, Pedro de Sousa Holstein (1781-1850), who was created Duke of Faial by Queen Maria II in 1833 and had the title converted to Duke of Palmela two months later. (ancestry.com 12 May 2025; online catalogue of Devil in the Detail booksellers, Headington, Oxford, accessed Feb. 2025; Wikipedia 12 May 2025) HJ