James S. Watson

James Samuel Watson (1882–1952) was one of the first two Black Americans elected as a judge in the state of New York.

Biography

James S. Watson was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica on May 29, 1882. His father, James Michael Watson, was a Sergeant in the Jamaica Constabulary Force and would later work for the Jamaica Government Railway as a conductor and platform foreman. His mother's name was Elizabeth Jones Watson. James Lopez Watson (1922–2001), who became a judge of the United States Court of International Trade Douglas C. Watson (d. 1993), a design engineer who helped design the Republic F-105 Thunderchief and the Republic F-84 Thunderjet Grace Elizabeth Watson (b. 1924)-Served in the Department of Health Education and Welfare

James and Violet Watson also had several nieces and nephews, including:

J. Bruce Llewellyn (1927–2010), a prominent businessman Colin Powell (b. 1937), the first African American to become United States Secretary of State