William Watson, Baron Watson
| The Right Honourable The Lord Watson PC |
|
|---|---|
| Lord Advocate | |
| In office 1876–1880 |
|
| Monarch | Queen Victoria |
| Prime Minister | Benjamin Disraeli |
| Deputy | John Macdonald Solicitor General for Scotland |
| Preceded by | Edward Gordon |
| Succeeded by | John McLaren |
| Solicitor General for Scotland | |
| In office 1874–1876 |
|
| Monarch | Queen Victoria |
| Prime Minister | Benjamin Disraeli |
| Preceded by | John Millar |
| Succeeded by | John Macdonald |
| Member of Parliament for Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities |
|
| In office 1876–1880 |
|
| Preceded by | Edward Gordon |
| Succeeded by | James Alexander Campbell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 August 1828 Covington, Lanarkshire |
| Died | 14 September 1899 (aged 71) |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse(s) | Margaret Bannatyne |
| Residence | 20 Queen's Gate, South Kensington |
| Alma mater | University of Glasgow, University of Edinburgh |
| Profession | Advocate |
William Watson, Baron Watson PC, LL.D (25 August 1827 – 14 September 1899)[1][2] was a Scottish lawyer and Conservative Party politician. He was Lord Advocate, the most senior Law Officer in Scotland, from 1876 to 1880, and was then appointed a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Watson was born in 1827, the son of the Reverend Thomas Watson, in Covington, Lanarkshire. He was educated privately and studied at the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh.[1] He was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1851[1] and appeared for the defence of Dr Edward William Pritchard, the poisoner, in 1865.[citation needed]
[edit] Career
Watson was appointed Solicitor General for Scotland, one of the Scottish Law Officers and deputy to the Lord Advocate, in 1874,[3] and was elected Dean of the Faculty of Advocates in 1875.[1] In 1876, the Lord Advocate, Edward Gordon, was appointed a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary (Lord Gordon of Drumearn) and resigned as Lord Advocate and Member of Parliament (MP) for Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities. Watson won the ensuing by-election[4] and was appointed Lord Advocate.[5]. He was appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1878.[6]
Watson did not stand for re-election at the 1880 general election,[4] and was instead appointed a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary[7] as Baron Watson, of Thankerton in the County of Lanark.[8]
[edit] Personal life
Watson married Margaret Bannatyne in 1868, and the pair had five sons and a daughter. He lived at 20 Queen's Gate in South Kensington, and was a member of the Athenæum and the Carlton Club.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e "William Watson, Baron Watson". Who's Who. http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whowaswho/U192054. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
- ^ Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "G" (part 1)
- ^ London Gazette 24 July 1874
- ^ a b Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1977]. British parliamentary election results 1832–1885 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 616. ISBN 0-900178-26-4.
- ^ London Gazette 13 October 1876
- ^ London Gazette 2 April 1878
- ^ London Gazette 27 April 1880
- ^ London Gazette 27 April 1880
[edit] External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by William Watson
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Edward Gordon |
Member of Parliament for Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities 1876 – 1880 |
Succeeded by James Alexander Campbell |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by John Millar |
Solicitor General for Scotland 1874 – 1876 |
Succeeded by John Macdonald |
| Preceded by Edward Strathearn Gordon |
Lord Advocate 1876 – 1880 |
Succeeded by John McLaren |
- 1827 births
- 1899 deaths
- Scottish judges
- Law lords
- Conservative Party (UK) MPs
- Members of the United Kingdom Parliament for Scottish constituencies
- Members of the United Kingdom Parliament for university constituencies
- UK MPs 1874–1880
- Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
- Members of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
- Members of the Faculty of Advocates
