Robert E. Wilson (politician)

Robert E. Wilson was born in Madison County, Mississippi, on March 30, 1856.^[1] He was the son of Joseph Wilson (died 1876), an immigrant from County Donegal who served in the Confederate Army, and Eleanor Evans Wilson.^[1] He had a brother, Edgar S. Wilson.^[2] Robert grew up doing work on his parents' farm.^[1] He attended country schools and later, the Brandon Male Academy for three years.^[1]

Wilson worked as a salesman and bookkeeper in Brandon.^[1] He then moved to Jackson, where he worked as a clerk during the second term of State Auditor Sylvester Gwin.^[1] Wilson then served as the Secretary of the Constitutional Convention of 1890.^[1] He also served as the Clerk of the Mississippi House of Representatives during the 1890 and 1892 sessions.^[1][3] He served as a Secretary in the 1892 Democratic National Convention.^[1] He resigned from the clerkship in order to serve as Registrar in the United States Land Office during the second term of President Grover Cleveland (1893-1897).^[1] In 1915, after spending time out of office, Wilson announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for State Auditor of Mississippi.^[1] On August 3, 1915, Wilson won the Democratic primary, winning by over 10,000 votes and taking 57 out of 80 counties.^[1] He won the November general election and served the 1916-1920 term.^[1] After his term, Wilson unsuccessfully ran in the primary for Mayor of Jackson.^[2]

Wilson was Methodist by religion.^[1] In 1879, married Rosa Lowry (died 1915), the daughter of Governor Robert Lowry.^[1] They had four children together: Robert G., Lee J., Rosa L., and Nell.^[1][2] Wilson died at his Jackson residence at midnight on January 12, 1921.^[2]