Charles Louis Napoleon Wilson (1865-1901)
1901 Obituary [1]
CHARLES LOUIS NAPOLEON WILSON was born in Blackburn on 28th August 1867, and was educated at the Mount Pleasant Wesleyan Schools, and the Collegiate Grammar School, Bacup. He afterwards went to Owens College, Manchester, where he came out third in the first class in civil engineering.
From 1881 to 1886 he served his time under his father, the borough engineer of Bacup, and then acted as assistant borough engineer for over five years.
In 1890 he won the first prize in an open competition for the Bacup Public Baths; and he prepared the surveys, plans, and sections for the Stacksteads Sewage Works. He also had charge of the construction of the Rossendale Valley steam tramway in the borough.
In 1891 he was appointed Town Surveyor of Bilston, where, in addition to his ordinary duties, he designed and carried out the erection of an electric lighting plant at the Market House; the electric lighting, beating, and laundry machinery at the Baths; and gas-engine and machinery at the Bilston Technical Schools.
He also acted for over five years as resident engineer on the Bilston Water Works, under Mr. Baldwin Latham, of Westminster.
For a number of years he had been engaged in making experiments on the precipitation and artificial filtration of sewage, and also on sewage disposal and bacteriology.
He was an enthusiastic volunteer, being a captain in the 3rd V.B. South Staffordshire Regiment, and was a Lieutenant in the Army Reserve of Officers. In the latter capacity he was called out to duty with the details of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, from July to October 1900, with the rank of Captain. On receiving an appointment under Government, he tendered his resignation to the Bilston Council, and proceeded to South Africa, lauding at Durban on 9th October 1901. He then proceeded to Chinde, where his death took place from enteric contracted on the voyage, on 15th November 1901, at the age of thirty-four.
He became a Member of this Institution in 1899.
1902 Obituary [2]