James Wilson (MP for York)

There are very few records of the life of James Wilson prior to 1820 when he came to public notice with the purchase of Sneaton Manor, which he rebuilt as Sneaton Castle, near Whitby. His account to Parliament of his prior life included claims to Army service in the West Indies and inheriting an estate on St.Vincent.

He was returned unopposed as the Tory MP for York in 1826. According to Parliamentary records, he was quite vocal in the chamber and lobbied well for his constituency and of his resident town of Whitby.

He died in September 1830, leaving his estate to his daughter, Mary. However, he died with many debts and his St Vincent estates were used as a partial repayment.^[1]