Wilson was born in Staunton in the Colony of Virginia, and studied law there.

Wilson was elected as a Federalist to the Twelfth Congress (March 4, 1811 – March 3, 1813) defeating Democratic-Republican William McKinley.

He was again a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1816 and 1817, after which he resumed the practice of law.

He died in Morgantown, Virginia (now West Virginia) on January 24, 1826, and was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery in Morgantown.

This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress