Early Life and Artistic Beginnings John H. “Old Jock” Wilson, born in Ayr, Scotland, in 1774, emerged from a background steeped in the practicalities of maritime life—his father was a merchant sea captain. This early connection to the ocean would profoundly shape his artistic trajectory, imbuing his later works with an authenticity and emotional resonance rarely found in purely academic landscapes. Initially destined for a trade, Wils…