Wilson, John, 1832-1895

Physician.

John M. Wilson was born in Falmouth, Ky., March 7, 1832, was schooled in Falmouth and entered the Ohio Medical College in Cincinnati from which he graduated in 1854. He settled in Williamstown, Ky., where he engaged in the practice of medicine. In 1860 he was married to Miss Nannie Kerr of Fayette County, Ky. and the two had nine children.

Constellation, a frigate launched in September 1797 and famous for its part in the naval operations of the Quasi-War with France and the Tripolitan War. In 1835, the Constellation was assigned as flagship of the West Indies Squadron, under the command of Alexander James Dallas, that sailed for the Gulf of Mexico in October of 1835. The squadron's mission was to assist the army in the war against the Seminole Indians, intercept slave traders, and protect the American commercial interests in the region. The squadron had stopped in Venezuela, Trinidad, Curacao, Havana, Mexico before arriving to the Navy Base at Pensacola Bay on Feb. 14, 1836. The Constellation remained moored at Pensacola, serving as a headquarters station, for two years, except for short cruises to Matamoras and Vera Cruz in May 1837 and to Tampico, in the spring of 1838. In October of 1838, the Constellation, then in need of repair, left the squadron and sailed for Boston.

John O. Wilson, midshipman, served on board the Constellation until his resignation on July 1, 1836.