Wanted - Anything dated or to do with 29th February

[David Newell]

I collect the date/topic "29th February". I would be interested in any material dated that day, or to do with events occurring on that day, in particular, a James Milne Wilson, Premier of Tasmania, who was born (1812) and died (1880) on 29th February! In 1836 he was honorary secretary to shareholders in the Theatre Royal at Hobart Town, and honorary treasurer of the first Hobart Annual Regatta in 1838. On 15 December 1847 he married Deborah Hope, daughter of P. Degraves. Wilson's land interests in the 1840s in the Port Phillip District led to his appointment to the commission of the peace in Melbourne and, later, as territorial magistrate. From 1851, with his brother-in-law W. Degraves, he ran sheep on 200 sq. miles (518 km²) near Mount Gambier, South Australia. Later Wilson leased the Cascade Brewery from the Degraveses for fourteen years.

On 18 October 1859 Wilson was elected for Hobart to the Legislative Council and held the seat till his death. Minister without portfolio in the J. Whyte government in 1863-66, he supported its policies on free trade and direct taxation. In 1863 he served on a joint select committee of inquiry into the Launceston-Deloraine railway and next year attended in Melbourne the intercolonial conference on coastal lighthouses. in 1868 he was a member of the royal commission on the main line railway between Hobart and Launceston which reported in favour of a 4 ft 8½ ins (144 cm) gauge.

Wilson became premier (Tasmania’s 7th) and colonial secretary on 4 August 1869. Among his achievements was the Hobart-Launceston main line railway Act and the 1871 contract for its construction with a 3 ft 6 in. gauge; legislation for prevention of scab in sheep and to provide for the distillation of spirits from colonial products; and amendments to the Constitution and the electoral Acts. But an 1870 law on intercolonial free trade did not receive royal assent. Defeated on property and income tax proposals, he resigned on 1 November 1872 and on 4 November was elected president of the Legislative Council. Wilson continued to represent Tasmania at intercolonial conferences.

Mayor of Hobart in 1868-69 Wilson cut an impressive, clean-shaven figure in mayoral robes when welcoming the Duke of Edinburgh in 1868. He actively supported volunteer military movements in the colony, and was sometime president of the Southern Tasmanian Rifle Association. In 1860 he had raised and led the City Guards, and in 1863 commanded the First Administrative Regiment, Southern Division Tasmanian Volunteers.

Wilson was chairman of directors of the Bank of Van Diemen's Land, a director of the Derwent and Tamar Fire, Life, and Marine Assurance Society and president of the Tasmanian Agricultural and Pastoral Society. He was foundation vice-president and chairman of the committee of the Tasmanian Racing Club (Jockey Club), supported it financially, and was prime mover in securing the Elwick race-course. A member and trustee of the Tasmanian Club, he was president of the royal commissions for the Philadelphia (1876), Sydney (1879) and Melbourne (1880) exhibitions.

Wilson was knighted in 1873 and created K.C.M.G. in 1878. He died of heart disease at his home, Melrose, Hampden Road, Hobart, on 29 February 1880 and was buried in Cornelian Bay cemetery. His estate was sworn for probate at £29,883.

At one time he lived at “Islington” (321 Davey Street, Hobart). The house was not called Islington until about 1899.