Mark Wilks

Who was Mark Wilks?

Colonel Mark Wilks FRS was a Manx soldier and administrator.

He was born in the Isle of Man, the son of Rev. James Wilks and Elisabeth Christian, and came from a long lineage of Manxmen.

At the age of 18 he went to India on a military commission and was appointed to the Madras Army. He served as the Town Major at Fort Saint George, the capital of Madras Presidency and later he was appointed the acting Resident at Mysore. He was the author of the historical document entitled, Report on the Internal Administration of Mysore. This document was a continuation of report the survey of the Kingdom of Mysore undertaken by Lieut. Col Colin Mackenzie. He also wrote the book, Historical Sketches of the South of India In an attempt to trace the History of Mysore. This document also relates to the works of Lieut. Col Colin Mackenzie. Mark Wilks was the uncle of Mark Cubbon who was the Commissioner of Mysore and after whom the Cubbon Park in Bangalore is named.