Ira Wilson
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| Portrayed by Christopher Eccleston | |
| Full Name | Ira Wilson |
|---|---|
| Title | Mr. Wilson (hopeful Viscount Ruxburgh) |
| Associated Noble House(s) | Viscountcy of Ruxburgh |
| Date of Birth | 7th January 1780 |
| Father | Robert Wilson |
| Father's Rank | None |
| Mother | Henrietta Ruxburgh |
| Mother's Rank | Daughter of the Viscount Ruxburgh |
| Town Residence | 8 Portman Square |
| Income | £30,000 |
| School | None |
| University | None |
| Year Attained Title | N/A |
| Year of Marriage | 1803 |
| Spouse | Rachel Wilson née Jenkins |
| Spouse's Rank | None |
| Spouse's Death | 1804 |
| Issue | Miss Roberta Wilson (b. 1804) |
Mr. Ira Wilson is the only surviving male heir to the Ruxburgh family, and a tenuous one at that. He is thirty-one years old and currently residing in Portman Square.
Ira is played by Ellie.
Family
- Grandfather (maternal): Ira Ruxburgh, Viscount Ruxburgh (deceased). Born 1728, died 1788, aged 60.
- Grandmother (maternal): Josephine Ruxburgh, Dowager Viscountess Ruxburgh. Born 1734, is 77 years old.
- Grandmother (paternal): Mrs Martha Wilson (deceased). Born 1734, died 1795, aged 61.
- Uncle (maternal): Richard Ruxburgh, Viscount Ruxburgh (deceased). Born 1755, died 1811, aged 56.
- Mother: The Honourable Henrietta Ruxburgh (disowned, deceased). Born 1758, died 1786, aged 28.
- Father: Mr Robert Wilson (deceased). Born 1755, died 1786, aged 31.
- Wife: Miss Rachel Jenkins (deceased). Born 1784, died 1804, aged 20.
- Daughter: Miss Roberta Wilson. Born 1804, is 7 years old.
Background
Ira Wilson was born on a bitterly cold January night in Manchester, kicking and screaming fit to burst through a complicated birth. ‘If he can survive that,’ his grandmother had said, ‘he can survive anything.’ Her words would become unfortunately prophetic, as a bout of pneumonia would take both of his parents when he was six years old. Ira never suffered so much as a sniffle during that time. He was raised by his grandmother until he was fifteen, at which point she passed away. Ira took on whatever work that he could get to avoid the workhouse, most of it legal but some of it not. Though he had never been to school, he was sharp and intelligent and survived comfortably compared to some of his peers.
When he was twenty-three, he met Rachel Jenkins while she was working on her parents’ flower stall at the market. She was a very slight girl, far more beautiful and delicate than anything in Ira’s life and he adored her from the moment he saw her. To his shock and delight, she felt similarly and they were married within a matter of months and Rachel soon fell pregnant. She had always had a weak constitution and they had known that it would not be an easy birth. Nevertheless, the child was wanted dearly. They took every precaution they could, but it was not enough, and Rachel died giving birth to their daughter Roberta who, like her father before her, came into the world kicking and screaming with a pair of lungs on her to put the town crier to shame. Rachel’s parents offered to raise Roberta, but Ira refused, telling them that his daughter would live with him and he would provide for her though in reality Roberta did most of her growing up with Mrs Jones next door whilst he was working.
A little after Roberta turned seven, Ira was contacted by solicitors from London who had managed to track him down. They explained to him that his maternal uncle Richard Ruxburgh, whom Ira had had no idea existed, had spent most of his adult life trying to find his sister who had run away with a footman from her friend’s estate about thirty years ago. She had broken an unofficial engagement with an Earl and humiliated her father, a friend of the Earl in question. Despite being disowned by her father, Henrietta had sent a few letters to her brother before her death, including one on the event of Ira’s birth. As his father was dying, and feeling guilty that he could not see Henrietta one last time, Richard convinced him to break the entail to ensure that he could will his money and lands to his nephew.
Whilst at first Ira wanted nothing to do with it, he could not ignore the changing face of his city. The Manchester skylines were filling with factories, and he was watching young children go in to work in them and come out dead. Knowing that should anything happen to him, Roberta would most likely end up a factory girl, he made the decision to come down to London to take charge of the estate and fight for his title.
Physical Appearance
Ira has a broad and sturdy worker’s build, and stands at about 5’11. He is not typically handsome, but has the sort of face you might look twice at. It’s the kind of face that should be disposed towards smiling, but he has had little reason to do so throughout his life. His eyes, once piercing and attractive, are now tired and sad and he looks far older than his 31 years - a fact not helped by the strands of grey that are starting to pepper his brown hair.
He isn’t yet quite sure how to inhabit his new status (and the wardrobe that comes with it), and often stands awkwardly, fidgeting with his clothes. Nevertheless, he cuts an imposing figure.
Personality
Having led a difficult life, filled with grief and loss, Ira has become much more closed off than he was as a younger man. He is stubborn, with a bulldog-like tenacity and a bark and a bite to match. Though he may seem standoffish, he has a warm heart and a wicked sense of humour (though these are deeply buried).
The estate came with the caveat of his grandmother Josephine Ruxburgh, the Dowager Viscountess Ruxburgh, and the Italian artist Lorenzo Ricchetti, of whom Richard was a ‘patron’ and who is most reluctant to leave the London house. Ira knows very little about the social etiquette that is expected of him and is being ‘tutored’ in it, as it were, by his grandmother, who is also spearheading the legal battle to reinstate the title. Although he now has the lands, money and properties of the former Viscount Ruxburgh, the title has now been extinguished. Having spent most of his life both laughing at and deriding the aristocracy with his family and friends, Ira is very thrown off by his current situation, in which he is actively pursuing a position in the hierarchy he purported to despise. He has not told anyone except Rachel’s parents where he has gone, and he is lonelier than ever. Nevertheless, his deeply ingrained resilience has kept him going this long, and he refuses to break apart now, mostly for the sake of Roberta.
Although Ira loves his daughter more than anything else in the world, he does not know her very well, and that has always been something that he regrets. Having become hardened to the world at a young age, forming attachments was extremely difficult for him and when he met Rachel it finally felt as if life was starting to look up for Ira. When she died, the last of the light and humour seemed to fade from him, and he found it very hard to connect with his daughter. He is hoping that the changes in their lives will, if nothing else, give them a chance to finally do so.
Relationships
- The Honourable Miss Blanche Carey
- Ira returned her parasol to her in Hyde Park, and made his first attempt at small talk.
- Rawdon Montgomery IV, Earl of Alderhan
- A pup with an inflated ego and a thoroughly disagreeable young man.
- Mr. Lorenzo Ricchetti
- An artist who was sponsored by his late uncle. Ira finds the man insufferable, but he is greatly liked by his daughter.
- Miss Bee Rosdew
- Bobbie's saviour, and a very agreeable and amusing young lady. Ira has danced with her one and a half times.
- Lady Clementine Worthing
- A pretty young girl of whom Ira feels somewhat protective. It probably has something to do with her host.
Thread Tracking
Tuesday 14th May
- Father of the year: Ira loses Bobbie during a trip to Hyde Park, and is reunited with her by Bee.
Wednesday, 15th May
- Nothing Ever Fatigues Me, But Doing What I Do Not Like: Ira returns Miss Carey's parasol to her in Hyde Park, and makes an attempt at small talk. To the horror of Miss Parker, he also admits to not knowing what Almack's is.
- The Lady of the House: Ira and Josephine arrive at the Haverleigh Party.
- Like one small shaft of light: Ira is formally introduced to Miss Rosdew, and they dance half the first dance before escaping to the sidelines.
Thursday, 16th May
- They have their exits and their entrances: Ira and Josephine arrive at the Fitzgerald Ball.
- You too? I thought I was the only one.: Ira finds Lady Clementine in a touch of nerves at the ball and offers to dance with her to take her mind off it.
- and in whose arms you're gonna be: Ira and Miss Rosdew dance the waltz.
- Know how to dissemble, without embarrassment: Ira and Miss Rosdew come across Lady Clementine in the hallway before dinner, and discuss dinner performances.