Wilkins was born on December 22, 1761, in Donegal, now East Donegal, Pennsylvania, and raised in Carlisle.[1] At age 15 the younger Wilkins enlisted for the American Revolution, and was assigned as Surgeon's Mate of the 4th Pennsylvania Regiment.[2][3] He served in the position from April 8, 1780, until the close of the war on November 3, 1783. As a result of this service Wilkins earned the nickname "Doctor".[4]
PresidentGeorge Washington appointed Wilkins as Quartermaster General of the United States Army in June, 1796. In October Wilkins attempted to resign, pleading the necessity of attending to personal business. His resignation was not accepted and he continued to serve, overseeing the supplying and equipping of an expanded Army in anticipation of war with France. Although the act of March 3, 1799, provided for a Quartermaster General with rank of major general, Wilkins was not appointed to that rank and served in the position as a civilian.[7] The dispute with France was resolved without fighting, and Wilkins served until his position was abolished in March, 1802 as part of a downsizing of the Army through the Military Peace Establishment Act.[8][9][10]
After leaving the Army, Wilkins returned to his business interests in Pennsylvania, including serving as President of the Pittsburgh branch of the Bank of Pennsylvania.[11][12][13] Wilkins died in Pittsburgh on April 29, 1816. He was originally buried in the yard of Pittsburgh's First Presbyterian Church, and later interred in Pittsburgh's Homewood Cemetery.[14][15]
^Francis Bernard Heitman, Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army, 1914, page 592
^The Little ListArchived 2012-06-28 at the Wayback Machine, Persons, Places, and Things in Pre-1800 Western Pennsylvania, W-X-Y-Z, Waggener to Zeisberger, accessed July 10, 2012
