Wilson was born in
Washington, D.C. He graduated from the
United States Military Academy in 1860 and was commissioned into combined Batteries B & L,
2nd U.S. Artillery as part of the
U.S. Horse Artillery Brigade. He transferred to the Corps of Topographical Engineers in July 1862 and was awarded the Medal of Honor for fighting at the
Battle of Malvern Hill in
Virginia, on August 6, 1862. He joined the
United States Army Corps of Engineers in 1863 and received three
brevet promotions for gallant service in
Alabama. After the Civil War, Wilson worked on
Hudson River improvements and drafted plans for the canal around the Cascades of the
Columbia River. He improved the
Great Lakes harbors of
Oswego, New York,
Cleveland, Ohio, and
Toledo, Ohio. Wilson headed the divisions of the Chief's office pertaining to military affairs for four years, was in charge of public buildings and grounds in Washington during both
Grover Cleveland administrations, and was Superintendent of
West Point from 1889 to 1893 during the administration of President
Benjamin Harrison. Before his appointment as
Chief of Engineers, he was Northeast Division Engineer. He was appointed as Chief Engineer of the US Army and promoted to brigadier general on February 1, 1897. As Chief of Engineers, he directed the Corps' activities during the
Spanish–American War. Wilson retired from the Corps on April 30, 1901. He served as an arbitrator during the
Coal Strike of 1902, and was president of the
Columbia Hospital for Women from 1902 to 1907. He remained a prominent figure in the cultural life of Washington until his death there on February 1, 1919. General Wilson was a Companion of the
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He also received an honorary
Doctor of Laws degree from
Columbia University. ==Medal of Honor citation==