Born on 6 April 1799 at Sunderland, County Durham, England, the son of David Wilkinson, sea pilot, and his wife Elizabeth, nee Dixon. He married on 5 November 1820 at London, England, to Louisa Price, daughter of Henry Price and his wife Charlotte, nee Frisley. Worked in the East London area for many years. Arrived at Hobart, Van Diemen's Land, in March 1833. Religious instructor to the aborigines on Flinders Island. With Henry Reed he ministered to the convicts in the Launceston area. Arrived at Melbourne on 16 April 1840 per "Joshua Carroll" from Launceston, V.D.L. Solicitor's clerk. Moved to Portland in 1842 and with James Swords commenced the "Portland Guardian" newspaper. Wesleyan Methodist preacher. Founded the "Warrnambool Examiner" in 1849. Member of the Legislative Council for Portland (1851-56). Moved to Brunswick, near Melbourne. Died on 20 April 1881 at Brunswick, Victoria, and was buried on 23 April 1881 at the Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton, Vic.

[death certificate; Benson A Century of Victorian Methodism; Thomson & Serle A Biographical Register of the Victorian Legislature, 1851-1900]

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