John Wilson (1804-1875)

John was a Scottish Christian missionary, orientalist and educator in the Bombay presidency, British India.
In 1828 he married Margaret Bayne and together they went as missionaries of the Scottish Missionary Society (SMS) to Bombay.

He was more intelligent than his siblings- learning to walk and talk at an early age. In the playground he was regarded as the ‘priest’ because he often preached to his classmates!l

1819-1827 he attended the University of Edinburgh studying linguistics (8 languages), philosophy and theology.
His first experience of teaching was as a guide and tutor to the three boys of Colonel Rose Cormack as they travelled through the Netherlands.

In Bombay the couple studied Marathi at Harnai. John established the Ambroli Church, a school for the young and a college (1832-6).

In 1829 Margaret established schools for girls. In 1832 she established a boarding school for females - now called St. Columbia High School.

They opened schools in Marathi and Hebrew for the native Jewish community of boys and girls. They translated the Old Testament for their benefit.

John was an author of many books (see Writings) and a started a periodical The Oriental Christian Spectator which ran from 1830-1862.

He was an archaeologist and passionate advocate for the preservation of Indian historical monuments becoming the Honorary President of the Asiatic Society in Bombay. In 1948 he was elected the first president of the Bombay Cave Temple Commission

In 1857 he helped establish Bombay University and became Vice-chancellor in 1869.