Alexander Cracroft Wilson

{{short description|New Zealand cricketer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2020}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Alexander Wilson

| image =

| fullname = Alexander Cracroft Wilson

| birth_date = {{birth date|1840|3|5|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Cawnpore, Bengal Presidency, British India

| death_date = {{death date and age|1911|1|5|1840|3|5|df=yes}}

| death_place = Christchurch, New Zealand

| family = {{ubl|John Cracroft Wilson (father)|Walter Wilson (brother)}}

| batting =

| bowling =

| role =

| club1 = Canterbury

| year1 = 1877/78

| date = 22 October

| year = 2020

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/38864.html Cricinfo

}}

Alexander Cracroft Wilson (5 March 1840 – 5 January 1911) was a New Zealand banker, businessman, college administrator, and cricketer. He played in one first-class cricket match for Canterbury during the 1877–78 season.[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/38864.html Alexander Wilson], CricInfo. Retrieved 22 October 2020.

Born at Cawnpore in British India in 1840, Wilson was the second youngest son of John Cracroft Wilson and his wife Elizabeth (née Wall). After being educated in England, in 1859 he moved to join his father, now re-married, at his Cashmere estate in New Zealand, travelling on the Cresswell.[https://christchurchcitylibraries.com/heritage/people/c/cracroftwilsonalexander/ Alexander Cracroft Wilson, 1840–1911], Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 18 May 2025.[https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1w31/wilson-john-cracroft Wilson, John Cracroft], Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 18 May 2025.Obituary: Mr A Cracroft Wilson, The Star, issue 10058, 21 January 1911, p. 7. ([https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19110121.2.43 Available online] at Papers Past. Retrieved 18 May 2025.)McCarron A (2010) New Zealand Cricketers 1863/64–2010'', pp. 140–141. Cardiff: The Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. {{isbn|978 1 905138 98 2}} ([https://archive.acscricket.com/cricketers_series/new_zealand_cricketers_1863-64_2010/index.html Available online] at the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. Retrieved 5 June 2023.)

In New Zealand, Wilson initially worked at the Bank of New Zealand when it opened at Christchurch in 1862. He managed the bank's branch at Lyttelton before retiring in 1871 and moving briefly to Auckland where he met his future wife Laura Munro, the daughter of a Native Land Court judge; the couple married in 1877. Later in the decade he went in to business at Christchurch, founding the merchant company Sawtell and Wilson with Henry Sawtell. He was a trustee of a building and investment company, secretary of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, on the board of the New Zealand Shipping Company, and was the Italian consul in Christchurch.

Wilson's only first-class cricket match was a December 1877 fixture against Auckland. Opening the batting, he scored 16 runs in Canterbury's first innings before being dismissed for two runs in their second.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/23/23126/23126.html Alexander Wilson], CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 May 2025. {{subscription}} The following month he played a one-day match for the side against Wellington on the way back to Christchurch. His brother, Walter Cracroft Wilson, had played two first-class matches for the province in the 1860s before drowning in the Rakaia River in 1865.

In 1891 Wilson was appointed as registrar of Canterbury College in Christchurch. He oversaw an expansion of Christchurch public library, the library's collection doubling during his time in the role.{{efn|Canterbury College operated the public library in Christchurch at this time, and Wilson's role as registrar meant that he was in effect the head public librarian, although the day to day work of the library was carried out by librarians.}} He retired in 1908 as a result of failing health.Personal, Taranaki Daily News, volume LIII, issue 220, 23 January 1911, p. 4. ([https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19110123.2.21 Available online] at Papers Past. Retrieved 18 May 2025.)

Wilson died in 1911 at the age of 70 after a period of illness which had confined him to his house.Obituary, Otago Daily Times, issue 15054, 30 January 1911, p. 3 (supplement). ([https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19110130.2.135 Available online] at Papers Past. Retrieved 18 May 2025.) He had nine children, four of whom died as infants.Late Mrs Alexander Cracroft Wilson, The Press, volume LXI, issue 18500, 30 September 1925, p. 2. ([https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19250930.2.5 Available online] at Papers Past. Retrieved 18 May 2025.) Three sons and two daughters survived into adulthood,Mr A Cracroft Wilson, Lyttelton Times, volume CXXII, issue 15521, 23 January 1911, p. 7. ([https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT19110123.2.44 Available online] at Papers Past. Retrieved 18 May 2025.) with two of his sons later being killed during World War I.Men who have fallen, New Zealand Herald, volume LIV, issue 16567, 16 June 1917, p. 8. ([https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19170616.2.50 Available online] at Papers Past. Retrieved 18 May 2025.) His daughter, Rita Cracrift Wilson, was a notable golfer who won six championships at Christchurch Ladies' Golf Club between 1904 and 1924.Obituary: Miss Rita Cracroft Wilson, The Press, volume LXXXIII, issue 25352, 27 November 1947, p. 2. ([https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19471127.2.4.2 Available online] at Papers Past. Retrieved 18 May 2025.)