David Wilson (September 17, 1818 – June 9, 1870) was an American lawyer, writer and politician fromNew York. He is best known for his role in publishingTwelve Years a Slave, as told to him bySolomon Northup, in 1853.
David Wilson was born on September 17, 1818, inWest Hebron,Washington County, New York.[1] He attended Salem Washington Academy inSalem, New York.[2] Wilson graduated fromUnion College in 1840. Then he studied law, with future state senatorOrville Clark, and was admitted to the bar in 1843.[2]
He practiced law inWhitehall.[2][3] He was aWhig member of theNew York State Assembly in1852.[4][5] In 1857, he was appointed as DeputyNew York State Treasurer, and moved permanently toAlbany.[3][5] He wasClerk of the New York State Assembly from January 26, 1858, to January 4, 1859, officiating in the81st New York State Legislature. At this time he was a member of theAmerican Party.[5][6] He was DeputyClerk of the New York Court of Appeals from 1860 to 1862.[7][8][a]
After some time he abandoned the practice of law due to poor health, and engaged in literary pursuits, writing books on historical subjects.[2][3]
Wilson is best known for editingSolomon Northup'sTwelve Years a Slave (1853).[5][9] He met Northup throughOrville Clark, who provided an affidavit for Northrup and circulated and signed a petition that helped free him.[2] In the preface of the book, Wilson states that he corrected "numerous faults of style and of expression" and corrected discrepancies in the tale.[10][b]
Northup's motivation was different from those of fugitive slaves; Northup's narrative is rich with verifiable details; Northup had a significant role in writing the book; David Wilson, the book’s editor, was not an abolitionist; and Northup was entirely capable of telling his own story.
— David Fiske,Authenticity and Authorship: Twelve Years a Slave [10]
Wilson stated that he had not intended for the book to be as long as it became. Northup had wanted to include a lot of details that may not be critical to the telling of the story, but made it an important historical account of life on several plantations and the cruelty they endured. A group ofUnion soldiers who had earlier read the book met Northrup's enslaverEdwin Epps during theCivil War. Epps told them that "a greater part of the book was truth."[10]
Wilson clearly states that he had no objective beyond that of an editor in publishing the book. He was not an abolitionist who would actively seek the elimination of slavery. Politically, he was affiliated with theAmerican Party, which did not have a stance for or against slavery.[10] In the book's preface, Wilson states:
It is believed that the following account of his experience on Bayou Boeuf presents a correct picture of Slavery in all its lights, and shadows, as it now exists in that locality. Unbiased, as he conceives, by any prepossessions or prejudices, the only object of the editor has been to give a faithful history of Solomon Northup's life, as he received it from his lips.
— David Wilson, Preface,Twelve Years a Slave [10]
Wilson wrote other books about historical subjects:
In his later years, Wilson was part-owner of a brewery.[2] He died on June 9, 1870, in Albany, New York,[2][5][c] and was buried at the New Hebron Cemetery inHebron.
| New York State Assembly | ||
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| Preceded by | New York State Assembly Washington County, 2nd District 1852 | Succeeded by |
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| Preceded by | Clerk of the New York State Assembly 1858–1859 | Succeeded by |
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