Margaret Robertson Watson-Watt

Margaret, Lady Watson-Watt (3 May 1886 - 7 September 1988) was a Scottish teacher who was married to Sir Robert Watson-Wat t, known as the "father of radar". Lady Watson-Watt assisted in his experiments related to radio detection and he credited her contribution to the success of his research that led to the development of radar technology used in World War II.

Early life Margaret Robertson was born on 3 May 1886 in Perth, Scotland. Her father was a draughtsman and her mother worked for Campbell's Dyeworks. She attended Perth Academy. She became a teacher in Dundee, where she attended evening classes at University College Dundee.

Development of radar Watson-Watt moved with her husband to Farnborough when he began work with the Meteorological Office. They lived in one hut while carrying out research in a second one. At this time, she assisted his research by repairing the radio apparatus he used to detect thunderstorms, using the soldering skills from her evening classes. She also observed and recorded radio experiments. In 1923, Watson-Watt joined her husband in Alexandria and then travelled to Khartoum to study atmospherics. She later joined him at Tromsø, Norway to assist in his research.

Robert Watson-Watt later credited his wife for her 'behind the scenes' contribution to the success of his research.

"The technique we worked out in those years has been extended over the whole field of radio research, and in that sense was the forerunner of the experiments that led to radio location."

War service In World War I, Margaret Watson-Watt worked for the Military Headquarters at Aldershot, transcribing morse code messages from Paris, and listening for the time signals from Berlin and Paris which she would telephone to HQ.

Personal life Watson-Watt divorced her husband in October 1952 on the grounds of adultery. The couple had no children. In 1962, she was in a collision with another car on South Methven Street, Perth and was fined £6.

Later life and death Watson-Watt lived at Dunalastair, Muirton Bank, Perth. In 1972, she gained an A-level qualification in Italian aged 86.