Arthur Wilson was born on 14 December 1836 in
Hull, Yorkshire. His father was
Thomas Wilson, owner of the
Thomas Wilson Sons & Co. shipping business. His brother was
Charles Wilson, who was later created
Baron Nunburnholme. Like his brother, he was educated at Kingston College in Hull. He was associated with Charles throughout his life, and became the head of the business after his brother's death in 1907. Before this, he served as director of the
North Eastern Railway, and chairman of the shipping committee of the Hull Chamber of Commerce. He was
High Sheriff of Yorkshire for 1891. For the last twenty years of his life, his London home was 17
Grosvenor Place, a building which now serves as
the embassy of Ireland. Wilson's son
Arthur entered Parliament as a Unionist for the
Holderness division of Yorkshire in 1900. Wilson himself was active in protecting the
Liberal interest in Yorkshire, but spoke against
Gladstone's
Home Rule bill, and joined the
Liberal Unionists. In 1909, he spoke in favour of
tariff reform. Wilson died of cancer in 1909, two years after taking charge of the shipping business. He was a generous benefactor to Hull, and is especially remembered for the Victoria Children's Hospital, for which he served as chairman. ==Royal baccarat scandal==