John Hampton Watson

John Hampton Watson (December 31, 1804 – August 16, 1883) was an American medical doctor, lawyer, and judge for various periods of his life in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kansas.

Legal career He practiced law in Kansas from 1558 until 1862 when the vacancy for the office of chief justice of the supreme court became available due to Thomas Ewing Jr. going into military service.

He was elected to be the chief justice of the Kansas Supreme Court by a large majority on November 4, 1862, winning 9,176 votes to his opponent's 6,016. However, the election was ruled void due to a legal technicality and he never took up the position.

A few months later in April 1663 Watson filed a challenge for his right to take the Chief Justice position, but in October the court pronounced in favor of Judge Cobb meaning elections would be held later that year. Although he was encourage to stand again Watson declined a renomination.

Watson went on to play an active role in the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railway, later to become the Missouri Pacific. At the end of his two terms on the court Watson retired from professional service. He was survived by all of his children, two sons and three daughters.