Major-General John Vaughan, CB CMG DSO, lived at Nannau, Dolgellau. He was a cavalry officer in the 7th (Queen's Own) Hussars and the 10th (The Prince of Wales's Own) Royal Hussars of the British Army. He fought in several conflicts on the African continent. During the First World War he commanded the 3rd Cavalry Brigade and then the 3rd Cavalry Division, for which he was awarded the Order of the Bath and a Bar for the Distinguished Service Order. Vaughan retired from the army in 1920 and in 1932 he became the Welsh President of the British Legion. He was also a Justice of the Peace, and the Deputy Lieutenant of Merionethshire until 1954.
Vaughan inherited two major Wilson paintings, which were sold at Christie's on 20 June 1930:
P152 Snowdon from Llyn Nantlle, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
P154 Pembroke Castle, National Museum Wales