Charles Rivers Wilson
Encyclopedia
Sir Charles Rivers Wilson (1831-1916) was a British
civil servant and financier.
Wilson was born in London on 19 February 1831. He studied at Eton College
and Balliol College, Oxford
. He entered the Treasury in 1856, and was private secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Robert Lowe
) from 1868 to 1873. He was Royal Commissioner for the Paris Exhibition of 1878, having been already appointed Comptroller General of Office for Reduction of National Debt in 1874.
Whilst holding this position, Wilson visited Egypt
in 1876 and he was appointed a government director of the Suez Canal Company
. Early in 1878 he was selected as vice-president of the Commission to enquire into the Egyptian financial situation. A few months later, Wilson was nominated Financial Minister in Egypt.
In 1879, Wilson and the first Prime Minister of Egypt, Nubar Pasha
, were the victims of a serious outrage by the mob in the streets of Cairo
– an incident which was the direct precursor of the Arabi revolt and the British occupation of Egypt in 1882. In April 1880, on the fall of the Khedive Ismail and the inauguration of his son Tewfik
as Khedive, Wilson was appointed president of the Commission for the Liquidation of the Egyptian Debt, with full powers to regulate the financial position of Egypt. On the conclusion of this duty he returned to his post in London.
On retiring from his post as Comptroller General of the National Debt Office in 1894, he became in 1895 president of the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada. He appointed Charles Melville Hays
as general manager, who undertook a major reorganisation of the railway. In 1903 he launched the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway
. He also served as director of the Alliance Assurance Company (from 1880), and as chairman of British Electric Traction
Company from 1896.
He was created a K.C.M.G. in 1880 and was promoted G.C.M.G. in 1895. Married twice, he had no children and he died in London on February 9, 1916.
The town of Rivers, Manitoba
is named for him.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
civil servant and financier.
Wilson was born in London on 19 February 1831. He studied at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
. He entered the Treasury in 1856, and was private secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Robert Lowe
Robert Lowe, 1st Viscount Sherbrooke
Robert Lowe, 1st Viscount Sherbrooke PC , British and Australian statesman, was a pivotal but often forgotten figure who shaped British politics in the latter half of the 19th century. He held office under William Ewart Gladstone as Chancellor of the Exchequer between 1868 and 1873 and as Home...
) from 1868 to 1873. He was Royal Commissioner for the Paris Exhibition of 1878, having been already appointed Comptroller General of Office for Reduction of National Debt in 1874.
Whilst holding this position, Wilson visited Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
in 1876 and he was appointed a government director of the Suez Canal Company
Suez Canal Company
The Universal Suez Ship Canal Company was the Egyptian corporation which was formed by Ferdinand de Lesseps during 1858, constructed the Suez Canal between 1859 and 1869, and owned and operated it for many years thereafter...
. Early in 1878 he was selected as vice-president of the Commission to enquire into the Egyptian financial situation. A few months later, Wilson was nominated Financial Minister in Egypt.
In 1879, Wilson and the first Prime Minister of Egypt, Nubar Pasha
Nubar Pasha
Nubar Pasha was an Egyptian politician and the first Prime Minister of Egypt. He served as Prime Minister three times during his career. His first term was between August 1878 and February 23, 1879. His second term was served from January 10, 1884 to June 9, 1888...
, were the victims of a serious outrage by the mob in the streets of Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
– an incident which was the direct precursor of the Arabi revolt and the British occupation of Egypt in 1882. In April 1880, on the fall of the Khedive Ismail and the inauguration of his son Tewfik
Tewfik Pasha
HH Muhammed Tewfik Pasha ' was Khedive of Egypt and Sudan between 1879 and 1892, and the sixth ruler from the Muhammad Ali Dynasty.-Early life:...
as Khedive, Wilson was appointed president of the Commission for the Liquidation of the Egyptian Debt, with full powers to regulate the financial position of Egypt. On the conclusion of this duty he returned to his post in London.
On retiring from his post as Comptroller General of the National Debt Office in 1894, he became in 1895 president of the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada. He appointed Charles Melville Hays
Charles Melville Hays
Charles Melville Hays was an American railway executive of the Grand Trunk Railway. He died at sea on the RMS Titanic.-Early years:...
as general manager, who undertook a major reorganisation of the railway. In 1903 he launched the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway
Grand Trunk Pacific Railway
The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway was a historical Canadian railway.A wholly owned subsidiary of the Grand Trunk Railway , the GTPR was constructed by GTR using loans provided by the Government of Canada. The company was formed in 1903 with a mandate to build west from Winnipeg, Manitoba to the...
. He also served as director of the Alliance Assurance Company (from 1880), and as chairman of British Electric Traction
British Electric Traction
British Electric Traction Company Limited, renamed BET plc in 1985, was a large British industrial conglomerate. It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but was acquired by Rentokil in 1996, and the merged company is now known as Rentokil Initial.- Early history :The company was founded as...
Company from 1896.
He was created a K.C.M.G. in 1880 and was promoted G.C.M.G. in 1895. Married twice, he had no children and he died in London on February 9, 1916.
The town of Rivers, Manitoba
Rivers, Manitoba
Rivers is a town in the Canadian province of Manitoba located 40 kilometres northwest of Brandon. Rivers had a population of 1,193 people in the 2006 census. Rivers was named in 1908 after Sir Charles Rivers Wilson, Chairman of the Board of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway...
is named for him.