He was born near Newry, County Down, his father being James Wilson (merchant), and was brought up there.
He studied at Trinity College Dublin starting in 1798, becoming a Scholar in 1800, graduating BA (1802), MA (1809) and later LLD (1830).
[1] For seventeen years he was Curate at St. Audoen's Church, Dublin.
Later he was Rector of Killinane and Chancellor of Leighlin, posts he held until his elevation to the episcopate.
[2] He was nominated to the vacant post of Bishop of Cork on 24 June 1848 and consecrated on 30 July 1848[3] following the death of the previous incumbent, Samuel Kyle.