Robert Wilson (1806 – 1888) was a Great Lakes ship captain operating out of Oakville, Province of Canada who helped black

slaves Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...

from the United States escape to freedom as part of the Underground Railroad. Wilson was born in Ireland. His mother moved the family to Canada in 1817 after the death of her husband. Wilson was the master of the ''Lady Colborne'', a schooner that shipped grain on the Great Lakes. Slaves would be picked up from Ashtabula, Ohio and hidden in the hold with grain shipments. Following the American Civil War, African Americans in the Oakville area celebrated

Emancipation Day Emancipation Day is observed in many former European colonies in the Caribbean and areas of the United States on various dates to commemorate the emancipation of slaves of African descent. On August 1, 1985, Trinidad and Tobago became the fir ...

at George's Square in the town, and would also visit the home of Wilson. The home at 279 Lawson St. was known as the "Mariner's Home" as it was open to ill and homeless sailors during the winter. The Captain R. Wilson Public School is named in his honour. Capt-R-Wilson-Public-School

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Robert 1806 births 1888 deaths People from Oakville, Ontario Great Lakes Sea captains Underground Railroad people