Horace Wilson (professor)
Encyclopedia
Horace Wilson was an American expatriate
educator in late 19th century Empire of Japan
. He is one of the persons credited with introducing the sport of baseball
to Japan.
. A veteran of the American Civil War
, where he fought for the 12th Maine Regiment against the Confederates
in Louisiana
, he was hired by the Japanese government as a foreign adviser
to assist in the modernization of the Japanese education system after the Meiji Restoration
. He served as a professor
of English
at Kaisei Gakko, the forerunner of Tokyo Imperial University.
In either 1872 or 1873, Wilson decided that his students needed more physical exercise, and introduced them to the sport of baseball. Several weeks or months later, enough interest had developed for the school to sponsor a seven inning game between the Japanese students and foreign instructors. The first formal baseball team was established in 1878.
Wilson returned to America in 1877 and lived in San Francisco. He died in 1927 at age 84.
Wilson was posthumously elected to membership in the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame
by the special committee in 2003.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator in late 19th century Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
. He is one of the persons credited with introducing the sport of baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
to Japan.
Biography
Wilson was born in Gorham, MaineGorham, Maine
Gorham is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 16,381 at the 2010 census. In addition to an urban village center known as Gorham Village or simply "the Village," the town also encompasses a number of smaller, unincorporated villages and hamlets with distinct...
. A veteran of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, where he fought for the 12th Maine Regiment against the Confederates
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, he was hired by the Japanese government as a foreign adviser
O-yatoi gaikokujin
The Foreign government advisors in Meiji Japan, known in Japanese as oyatoi gaikokujin , were those foreign advisors hired by the Japanese government for their specialized knowledge to assist in the modernization of Japan at the end of the Bakufu and during the Meiji era. The term is sometimes...
to assist in the modernization of the Japanese education system after the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
. He served as a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
at Kaisei Gakko, the forerunner of Tokyo Imperial University.
In either 1872 or 1873, Wilson decided that his students needed more physical exercise, and introduced them to the sport of baseball. Several weeks or months later, enough interest had developed for the school to sponsor a seven inning game between the Japanese students and foreign instructors. The first formal baseball team was established in 1878.
Wilson returned to America in 1877 and lived in San Francisco. He died in 1927 at age 84.
Wilson was posthumously elected to membership in the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame
Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame
The Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a Museum which includes a library, reference rooms and Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame ....
by the special committee in 2003.