Sir Alfred Watson

Sir Alfred William Watson KCB FIA (11 March 1870 – 7 May 1936) was a British actuary and civil servant. In 1917 he became Britain's first government actuary and was very influential in setting up funding from National Insurance for the newly introduced state pension.

Early life Watson was born in Bristol on 11 March 1870 to parents Alfred Reuban Watson, a violinist and composer, and Emily Morris Hobro. He studied at Nottingham High School, before joining his grandfather Reuban Watson's actuarial practice, R. Watson and Sons. He became a fellow of the Institute of Actuaries in 1893, passing his final examination with the highest mark in his year. The committee concluded in 1898 that none of the systems presented to them were viable. Watson questioned witnesses with an "aggressive and combative style". In the article, he demonstrated an increase in sickness and a reduction in mortality, with links between occupation and sickness and between region and mortality, and that sickness benefit claims had risen for all groups of members, but most significantly for members older than 65. He began consulting in London from 1910.

Watson gave advice about the writing of the National Insurance Act 1911, before being appointed chief actuary to the National Health Insurance Joint Committee after the National Insurance bill had become law in 1912. During this time, he worked on plans with the Ministry of Shipping to optimise the use of shipping. He worked inside HM Treasury, and was seen to be aligned with the department's desire for more control over social policy. During the time he held the role, no social policy could become law without his approval. He was often consulted by all government departments on subjects, including subjects outside his specialism.

Personal life Watson married Elizabeth Moffrey, daughter of a grand master of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, in June 1895.

Honours Watson was knighted in 1915 and made a knight commander of the order of the Bath (KCB) in 1920.