Charles Watson (Royal Navy officer)

Charles Watson (1714 – 16 August 1757) was an officer of the Royal Navy, who rose to the rank of vice-admiral. He served briefly as colonial governor of Newfoundland, died at Calcutta, India.

Watson entered the navy in 1728 and in 1748 became governor of Newfoundland and commander-in-chief of Cape Breton. The position of governor of the colony had temporarily lapsed after the departure of Richard Edwards and therefore his successor, James Douglas, was not a governor of the island but commodore. Also, no commodore nor governor was sent in 1747, the next governor was Charles Watson, in 1748. As governor of Newfoundland he set about deporting Irish and Scots Catholics from the colony.

Watson's quick rise through the ranks is thought to be attributed from his uncle, Sir Charles Wager, who was first lord of the admiralty.

There is a memorial to Watson in Westminster Abbey, London.

Battle of Plassey

The English settlement at Fort William, India sought assistance from the Presidency of Fort St. George at Madras, which sent Colonel Robert Clive and Admiral Charles Watson. They re-captured Calcutta on 2 January 1757, but the Nawab marched again on Calcutta on 5 February 1757, and was surprised by a dawn attack by the English.[1] This resulted in the Treaty of Alinagar on 7 February 1757. [2]

Service history:

• 1728 joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer per order on HMS Romney,
• 1734 promoted lieutenant,
• 1738 promoted captain and given command of East Indies,
• 1757 vice-admiral of the white

See also

• Governors of Newfoundland
• List of people of Newfoundland and Labrador

External links

• Biography at Government House The Governorship of Newfoundland and Labrador
• Charles Watson at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
• Memorial described at UK National Maritime Museum - Maritime Memorials
• Admiral Watson's Monument in Calcutta

Political offices
Preceded by James Douglas	Governor of Newfoundland 1748–1748	Succeeded by George Brydges Rodney

Persondata
Name	Watson, Charles
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1714
Place of birth
Date of death	16 August 1757
Place of death