Alexander Wilson was born at Paisley, Scotland in 1766. He was the son of a poor distiller. His mother died when he was ten. Wilson left school when he was twelve or thirteen years old to live with his older sister and her husband, William Duncan, who was a weaver. While living with them he learned how to weave.

As a young man he tried his hand at writing and engaged in politics. During a political feud between the weavers and the capitalists of Paisley, Wilson wrote a scathing satire about one of the prominent capitalists and his unfair treatment to weavers. This resulted with Wilson being sentenced to a short prison term and ordered to burn the document in front of the townsmen.

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Alexander Wilson Statue in Paisley, Scotland
Courtesy of Cornell University Library
Nineteenth Century Periodicals Collection
Old Landmarks in Philadelphia. [Scribners monthly, an illustrated magazine for the people. / Volume 12, Issue 3, July 1876]

Wilson was dissatisfied with the oppression in his country and decided to seek a better life in America. His nephew, William Duncan, made the voyage with him. They arrived at New Castle, Delaware on July 14, 1794.

In order to live, Wilson took up the trade of weaving and made several peddling trips to sell his goods. These excursions gave him time to make observations about birds and animals. He also taught school for many years at several different locations.

In 1802, Wilson met William Bartram a naturalist who encouraged him to study birds. The rest of Wilson's life was devoted to observing and painting birds. In 1805 he wrote to Thomas Jefferson asking to join an expedition so he could study birds in other parts of the country. Although Jefferson wrote back, he never mentioned anything about the expeditions. Wilson's book, American Ornithology, a nine volume set was published from 1808 - 1814. His last illness is stated by Captain Warnock to have been a cold caught during a long chase after some much desired bird (Wilson's American Ornithology Vol 1. p. civ). He died in August 23, 1813, probably of dysentery. from drowning in a river while pursuing a bird.

Alexander Wilson
American Ornithology; or, The Natural History of the Birds of North America by
Alexander Wilson and
Prince Charles Lucien Bonaparte
Cassell Petter & Galpin

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Courtesy The Library of Congress
The American ornithology, with twenty-six splendid coloured engravings by Alexander Wilson. With a life of the author by George Ord. In preparing this edition for the press, the original text of Wilson has been carefully preserved ... Harrsion Hall. Philadelphia, [n. d.].