Lieutenant Charles W. Wilson, Royal Engineers - c. 1860

Lieutenant Wilson was about 24 when this photo was taken, and among other duties, worked as a photographer for the Royal Engineers. He was part of the British Northwest Boundary Commission that surveyed the border between the northwest U.S. and British territory. Born in England, he also made a number of watercolors during his work with the boundary commission, which are now housed in the British Columbia archives. This very early view, likely taken near Spokane, shows his full buckskins and rifle with clear detail. -- This photo is restored and printed by Old Oregon.