Born on October 2nd 1935 in London, England, Mathew John Anthony Wilson, son of Anthony Wilson and Margaret Holden, spent his early years in Europe before moving to America aged 11. He was educated at Trinity College School, Port Hope, Ontario. He returned to England to do his national service, after which he was selected to attend The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and started his 28 year Military career with The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, the fourth generation of his family to have served in the British army. He met his wife - Janet (Mowll) – when he was at the School of Infantry at Hythe, Kent and they were married in Canterbury Cathedral in 1962. His service took them to many different countries across the world, including Malaysia, Pakistan and Hong Kong. He saw active service in Cyprus, Borneo, Aden, Northern Ireland and the Falkland Islands. He was decorated many times including the Order of the British Empire, and the Military Cross for bravery.  He retired as a Brigadier General in 1983 to pursue his other interests. After a short period running the Wilderness Foundation UK, he and Janet moved to South Barnard, VT. Despite the landlocked state, he always had a great respect and love for the ocean and fulfilled a life long dream sailing a 27' catamaran across the Atlantic. His adventures formed the basis of his first book, Taking Terrapin Home. There followed 10 years of more sailing in the Bahamas and the writing, together with Janet, of 4 editions of The Bahamas Cruising Guide. He also travelled extensively and was frequently asked to lecture on his travels and his particular passion for early ocean voyages. His second book, The Land of War Elephants was about the Indian sub-continent. He was an adventurer and an explorer, a diver and a pilot. He loved to spend summers in Vermont and winters in Jupiter, Florida. He suffered from Alzheimer's in his final years that diminished his mind but not his loving spirit. He was a member of the Explorer's Club and the Lakota Club, Woodstock.

Tony was a generous, kind and charming man with impeccable manners, a love of adventure, and great sense of fun. He died on December 5, 2019 in the Woodstock Terrace, surrounded by family. A Celebration of his Life will be held at a later date.

He is survived by his wife, Janet, son Edward and his wife Imogen and their children Titus and Tallulah, and daughter Victoria and her husband Edward Roskill and their children Alexander and Isabella.

In his memory d onations may be sent to The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation, 110 East 42nd Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10017