Wilson was born March 1, 1864, in Danzig, Prussia and emigrated to the U.S., joining the Navy from New York state.
On July 1, 1897, he was serving as a boilermaker on the USS Puritan (BM-1) when one of the crown sheets collapsed on boiler E. He entered the fireroom after wrapping wet cloths around his face and arms to protect him from the heat and flames.
Once in the fireroom he opened the safety valve to prevent the other boilers from being damaged or destroyed.
Puritan and at the time of the collapse of one of the crown sheets of boiler E on that vessel, 1 July 1897.
Wrapping wet cloths about his face and arms, Wilson entered the fireroom and opened the safety valve, thus removing the danger of disabling the other boilers.