Having been called to the
Queensland Legislative Council in July 1885, he succeeded T. M. Patterson as Postmaster-General in the
Samuel Griffith Government in August 1887, retiring with his colleagues in June 1888. Wilson was leader of the council from 1890 to 1894 and 1898, minister without portfolio 1890 to 1893 and 1894 to 1898, postmaster-general 1893 to 1894 and 1898, secretary for public instruction 1893 to 1894 and 1899 and Minister of Justice and
Attorney-General from 1898 to 1899. Wilson was a supporter of
Federation and was responsible for the standard of time bill in 1894. ==Later life==