A few months ago Lance C. Wilson stopped in Braidwood to deliver a carton of his books to the Museum. A descendant of Thomas Braidwood Wilson's family, from whom this town gains the name, Lance was fascinated by this 19th century man of talent, curiosity and compassion, and last September published a fine hardback quarto book on his life.
'The Laird of Braidwood, The Life and Times of Dr Thomas Braidwood Wilson RN, surgeon, explorer, botanist, pastoralist, member of the Royal Geographical Society,' charts his life, from his family origins in Scotland, through to his demise in New South Wales. After a life of travel and adventure, he died broke of heart and wallet, after finally settling down with his beloved wife Jane.
The Laird of Braidwood is a worthwhile and informative read. Much of the book is devoted to re-publishing Dr Wilson's 1835 Narrative of a Voyage Round the World, where a first hand account lets the reader interpret the man. However, with such a colourful life to describe, I couldn't help thinking it is a pity there aren't a few more images in the book.
President of the Braidwood and District Historical Society, Dr Christine Wright who is acknowledged for her assistance with the book, says that "for Braidwood people, who know Dr Thomas Braidwood Wilson only in terms of this area, it makes fascinating reading. He was also a surgeon on convict ships, an explorer in the west of Australia and was shipwrecked twice."
Lance Wilson is a descendant of two of Dr Wilson's brothers, both of whom remained in Tasmania. Dr Wilson originally had a grant of land in Tasmania, but exchanged it for the land surrounding the town of Braidwood.
Like Dr Wilson, Lance raises Highland cattle in his retirement, but lives in Tasmania.
The book is available from the Braidwood Museum for $40, which is open Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday 10am-4pm.
AR
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