James Wilson (globe maker)

James Wilson was born in Londonderry, New Hampshire on March 15, 1763, the son of James Wilson and Elanor (Hopkins) Wilson.^[1] Wilson was raised and educated in Londonderry, farmed with his father, and trained as a blacksmith.^[1] He moved to Bradford, Vermont in 1796, became interested in cartography, and taught himself map making.^[1] Though he had little formal education, he purchased an encyclopedia to learn geography, learned techniques for engraving, and began making maps with the intention of producing classroom aids for schoolchildren.^[1]

When he visited Dartmouth College's European globe collection, Wilson was inspired by a pair of terrestrial and celestial globes.^[1] He left determined to create his own, and produced a heavy wooden sphere covered with ink drawings on paper.^[1] Though this first attempt was too heavy and took too long to produce for it to be commercially feasible, Wilson continued look for ways to improve his product.^[1] He sought out experts in copper engraving, including Amos Doolittle, in order to master their art.^[2]

In 1813, Wilson opened the first geographic globe factory in the United States and sold his initial 13 inch globe for $50.^[1] The Wilson globes were widely successful, and Wilson expanded to production of sets of celestial and terrestrial globes in various sizes, materials and prices, including printed Papier-mâché, enabling them to be purchased inexpensively for use in schools and homes.^[3] Wilson increased his production to meet demand, and in partnership with his sons he opened a second factory in Albany, New York.^[3] Wilson remained active until he was over eighty, when he created a planetarium for the Thetford Academy.^[3] The planetarium was well received, and he began offering them for sale.^[3]

Wilson died in Bradford on March 26, 1855,^[1] and was buried at Upper Plain Cemetery in Bradford.^[4]

Wilson was first married to Molly Highland, who died in 1786.^[3] They were the parents of a son, James, who was born in 1785.^[3] Wilson's second wife was Sarah Donaldson, with whom he was the father of 10 children, seven of whom lived to adulthood.^[3] In 1805, Wilson married Agnes MacDuffee (1783–1875).^[3] They were the parents of four children, three of who lived to adulthood.^[3]

Wilson's surviving globes are highly prized and can be found in libraries, museums and private collections.^[5] The Bradford rest area on Interstate 91 contains a historical marker indicating where his home and workshop stood and commemorating his accomplishments.^[6] The Bradford Historical Society Museum's collections include an 1810 Wilson Globe in a custom-made case, which was created by Bradford's Copeland Furniture Company.^[7]

• First American Globes
• Famous Vermonters Archived 2006-04-13 at the Wayback Machine
• Mapping the Republic