David Watson

Major-General David Watson (1704–1761) of the Royal Engineers was a Scottish officer and military engineer in the British Army.

Origins David Watson, born 29 Jun 1704, was the son of Robert Watson of Muirhouse, a Scottish merchant and solicitor, and Mary Baird, daughter of Robert Baird of Saughtonhall. He was the youngest of 11 children. David 'grew up in the early decades of the Scottish Enlightenment among a family who were enthusiastic sponsors of its values'. His sister Elizabeth's husband, Robert Dundas, Lord Advocate and Lord President of the Court of Sessions, with whom he lived in Lanarkshire and who became his patron, procured for him a commission in the Army. He was appointed an ensign in Colonel Middleton's regiment, later the 25th Foot, on 10 July 1725. He was at Gibraltar in 1731, and on 22 June 1733 was promoted to be lieutenant in the 25th Foot, which was then under the command of John Leslie, 10th Earl of Rothes.

On 10 March 1744 Watson was placed on the establishment of the engineers as a sub-engineer, and that year he lay with the ordnance train for the most part inactive at Ostend. He was actively employed in the Campaign of 1745, took part in the Battle of Fontenoy on 11 May, and was promoted on 21 May to be captain in the 21st Foot, the Earl of Panmure's regiment. He did good service at the Siege of Ostend, which capitulated to the French on 13 August. Under the terms of the capitulation he rejoined the Duke of Cumberland's army.

An alarm of invasion caused the recall of Watson and his assistants to England to make military reconnaissances of those parts of the country most exposed to such attack. Watson made a reconnaissance of the country between Guildford and Canterbury in December 1755, and early in 1756 of the country between Dorchester and Salisbury, and also between Gloucester and Pembroke. In March 1756, on an address of the House of Commons, Watson designed works for the defence of Milford Haven. He was examined by a committee of the House of Commons, and his projects were recommended to be put in hand to allay public alarm. Nothing, however, was done, and some years later other proposals by General William Skinner were preferred. Watson's survey of Milford Haven, dated 3 March 1756, entered the collection of the King's Library.

On 23 May Watson was appointed quartermaster-general of the forces for Scotland, with the rank of colonel of foot. On 14 May 1757, when the Engineers were reorganised, he became a captain of the Royal Engineers.

Seven Years' War On 21 April 1758 Watson was given the colonelcy of the 63rd Foot, and was appointed quartermaster-general in the conjoint expedition, under the Duke of Marlborough, Lord Anson, and Admiral Howe, which sailed from Spithead for the French coasts on 1 June. He landed with the troops in Cancale Bay, near St. Malo, assisted on the following day in the destruction of shipping and magazines of naval stores in the suburbs, embarked again on the 11th Foot, and, after ineffective visits to Havre and Cherbourg, returned to Portsmouth.

Watson then joined the allied army on the Rhine under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick. He was appointed quartermaster-general on the staff of Lord George Sackville, commanding the British contingent, and in that capacity took part in all the operations of the campaigns of 1758 and 1759 in which the British were engaged. On 31 July 1759 he reconnoitred the country between the allied camp and Minden Heath, extending his reconnaissance beyond the village of Halen. He distinguished himself at the Battle of Minden on 1 August, and on the following day was thanked in general orders for his bravery and able service. He was promoted to be major-general on 25 June 1759, but his promotion was not gazetted until 15 September following.

Death and legacy On 23 October 1760 Watson was transferred from the colonelcy of the 63rd Foot to that of the 38th Foot. He died in London on 7 November 1761, while holding the appointment of quartermaster-general to the forces, after a long illness; he was tended on his deathbed by his housekeeper, Sophia Wilson, whose devotion he mentioned in his will. He never married, but in his will provided for his bastard, David Watson, to be apprenticed when old enough.

Likenesses

Andrea Soldi, oils, 1756, private collection; Paul Sandby, chalk drawing, Windsor Castle; Andrea Soldi, oils, private collection.