General Sir John Wilson (1780–1856) was a British Army officer who served in the Peninsular War, and was acting Governor of British Ceylon in 1831. He entered the British Army as an ensign in the 28th Foot in 1794 and was promoted lieutenant the following year. In 1813 he rejoined Wellington's army, commanding a Portuguese brigade at the Siege of San Sebastian, the Passage of the Bidassoa and the Battle of Nivelle. He was again severely wounded near Bayonne. He was made brevet colonel and knighted in 1814, and made a CB the following year. He died in his London home in 1856.