Guy Wilson (historian)

Wilson was born on 18 February 1950 to Rowland Wilson and Mollie Wilson (née Munson).[1] He studied at New College, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree; as per tradition, his BA was later promoted to a Master of Arts.[2] He then studied at the University of Manchester where he completed a Diploma in Art Gallery and Museum Studies.[1]

Wilson began working at the Royal Armouries in 1972.[1] From 1978 to 1981, he was keeper of edged weapons and was based in the Tower of London.[2] In 1981, he was appointed Deputy Master of the Armouries.[1] In 1988, he was appointed Master of the Armouries and therefore became the head of the Royal Armouries.[2] During his leadership, the Royal Armouries expanded from its original site at the Tower of London to include two more museums.[3] Fort Nelson, a 19th-century fort and museum near Portsmouth specialising in artillery was taken over by the Royal Armouries in 1995.[4] A new museum was built in Leeds, the Royal Armouries Museum, and it opened in March 1996.[5] He stepped down as Master in 2002.[2]

Outside of his work at the Royal Armouries, he held a number of appointments. Since 1978, he has been a member of the British Commission for Military History.[1] From 1981 to 1999, he served on the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck.[2] He has been Vice-President of the Arms and Armour Society of Great Britain since 1995.[1] From 2002 to 2003, he served as President of the International Association of Museums of Arms and Military History (IAMAM).[1] From 2003 to 2010, he served as Chairman of the International Committee for Museums of Arms and Military History (ICOMAM).[1][2] ICOMAM is the successor organisation to IAMAM.[6]

In 1972, Wilson married Pamela Ruth McCredie. Together they have four children; two daughters and two sons.[1]

On 12 January 1984, Wilson was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (FSA).[7] He was elected a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers in 1990 and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers in 2000.[2]

• Wilson, G M (1975). Crossbows: Treasures of the Tower. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. ISBN 978-0116704450.
• Norman, A V B; Wilson, G M (1982). Treasures from the Tower of London : arms and armour. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 978-0853685418.
• Walker, Derek; Wilson, Guy (1996). The Royal Armouries in Leeds: the making of a museum. Leeds: Royal Armouries Museum. ISBN 978-0948092268.
• Wilson, Guy M. (2009). The Vauxhall Operatory. Leeds: Basiliscoe Press. ISBN 978-0955162220.