Wilson established a hardware business, and became a prosperous and respected merchant near the Montreal waterfront. In 1835, he married Ann Tracey, sister of Daniel Tracey.
Montreal city politics
He served as a City Councillor of Montreal from 1848 to 1849 and from 1850 to 1852 and Mayor of Montreal from 1851 to 1854.
Charles Wilson is interred in the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery in Montreal. He is commemorated by both Wilson Avenue in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and by rue Charles-Wilson in Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.