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Name: WILSON, John Henry CBE 'Lord John'
Birth Date: 1862
Death Date: 10 July 1932 London
Nationality: British
First Date: 1895
Profession: Senior Partner of Messrs Smith MacKenzie & Co., Mombasa; he was affectionately known as 'Lord John'. Pres. Mombasa Chamber of Commerce 1909-12; he was one of first two nominated unofficial members of the Legislative Council till 1914
Area: Mombasa
Married: no
Book Reference: Gillett, HBEA, Permanent Way, Cranworth, Debrett, EAHB 1905, EAS, North, Playne, Drumkey, EAHB 1906, Harmony, EAHB 1904, EAHB 1907, Leader14, Red Book 1912
School: Lancing College
General Information:
He was an ardent angler and a splendid shot.
Cranworth - 1906 - Kilindini - to hospitable home of John Wilson, head of firm of Smith Mackenzie. His house stood on a bluff over the harbour ...... Mr Wilson, Lord John as he was invariably called, was a great character, and undisputed monarch of Mombasa and the Coast, whose representative on the Legislative Council he was for many years. He was a fine business man, a keen sportsman and the staunchest and most generous of friends. He had been in residence before the arrival of the first settlers and, not unnaturally, looked on their advent as a very mixed blessing ..…..
Debrett 1928 - sometime a MLC, British EA; is a Director of Eastern Extension Australasia and China Telegraph Co. (Limited), and of Richards (Limited) of Aberdeen
The African Standard - 26-2-1903 - Invited to the wedding of H.R. Phelips & Miss Jacquette Edith Lambe in Mombasa
North - Smith, Mackenzie & Co. arr. EA 1895; arr. Zanzibar from Persian Gulf 21/12/1898 to take charge of Mombasa branch; based at Mombasa June 1899; Listed as member of Mombasa Club 1899; Mombasa 18/6/1901; Nairobi June 1903
Drumkey - Visiting Justice of HM Principal Prison at Mombasa
Drumkey 1909 - Committee Member, The Chamber of Commerce, Mombasa
EAS - 15/1/1903 - Mr J.H. Wilson and Mr C.C. Bowring have returned from up-country
Member of Lodge Harmony - Initiated 6/7/03, age 46, Merchant, Mombasa
Red Book 1912 - Nominated Unofficial Member of Legislative Council - The Hon Mr J.H. Wilson
Red Book 1912 - Chairman - Mombasa Chamber of Commerce
President of Mombasa Club 1904, 1907
Phyllida Cockell papers: The Chief of Customs for both Kenya and Uganda was Mr Major who was autocratic and non-cooperative as well as being ambitious. He managed to persuade the governor that he should manage and control the ports as well as remain Chief of Customs. Within the day of this appointment Mr John Wilson of Smith Mackenzie who was one of the two nominated members of the Legislative Council, arranged to meet the governor in Nairobi where he insisted that this new appointment should be canceled. Wilson succeeded in getting his way but as long as Major remained chief of customs there was friction between him and the firm.
Phyllida Cockell papers: The Chief of Customs for both Kenya and Uganda was Mr Major who was autocratic and non-cooperative as well as being ambitious. He managed to persuade the governor that he should manage and control the ports as well as remain Chief of Customs. Within the day of this appointment Mr John Wilson of Smith Mackenzie who was one of the two nominated members of the Legislative Council, arranged to meet the governor in Nairobi where he insisted that this new appointment should be canceled. Wilson succeeded in getting his way but as long as Major remained chief of customs there was friction between him and the firm.