[1] His siblings were John de Ponthieu Wilkes (who married Mary Seton, sister of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton)[2] and Frances Wilkes (who married Lewis Simond in New York in 1809).

His uncle was the John Wilkes, the radical journalist who served as MP for Aylesbury and Middlesex, High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, Sheriff of London, and Lord Mayor of London.

[4] He emigrated from England to America in c. 1782, reportedly "in company with John Jacob Astor on his return from a visit to Europe".

[5] Two years after arriving in the United States, he was among the organizers, amongst Alexander Hamilton, of the Bank of New York, in 1784, serving as its first teller.

Upon the resignation of General Matthew Clarkson, he was elected president of the Bank of New York in 1825, a position he held until 1832.