File talk:Joseph S. Wilson.jpg

Is this really a portrait of the individual identified?
I know the reference cited indicates that this individual is Joseph Shields Wilson, who served as Commissioner of the General Land Office. I question this ID.

According to his obituary, when Joseph J. Wilson died on June 23, 1874, he was in his 68th year. That puts his birth date in the time frame of no earlier than 1805, and no later than 1807. (Chicago Tribune, June 30, 1874).

The individual in the portrait appears to be middle-aged at last, and closer to elderly. He's wearing clothing that is obviously not from the mid to late 1800s. If anything, it's closer to the late 1700s, or maybe the early 1800s, but definitely no later than that.

Based on the lifespan of Joseph Shields Wilson and the clothing of the individual in the portrait, I think it's safe to conclude that the portrait is not one of the Joseph Shields Wilson who died in 1874.

Does anyone else have an opinion? If there's a consensus that it's not Joseph Shields Wilson, maybe the thing to do is request removal.

Billmckern (talk) 16:27, 2 April 2017 (UTC)