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William John Watts

1846 – 1907

Canadian politician

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About William John Watts

Lived 1846 – 1907 (aged 61). William John Watts was a Canadian politician, lawyer and businessperson.

William John Watts (May 1, 1846 – September 4, 1907) was a businessman, lawyer and political figure in Quebec. He represented Drummond-Arthabaska in the Legislative Assembly of Quebec from 1874 to 1885 and Drummond from 1890 to 1892 and from 1897 to 1901 as a Conservative.

He was born in Drummondville, Canada East, the son of Robert Nugent Watts and Charlotte Sheppard. Watts studied at McGill University, was called to the Quebec bar in 1869 and set up practice in Drummondville. He also owned several mills. He was first elected to the Quebec assembly in an 1874 by-election held after Wilfrid Laurier was elected to the House of Commons. In 1882, he married Mary Louisa Millar. Watts resigned his seat in 1885 following the execution of Louis Riel. He was defeated by Joseph Peter Cooke when he ran for reelection in 1892. He resigned his seat in 1901 after he was named registrar for Montreal West and served until his death in Drummondville at the age of 61.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Positions held
Member of the National Assembly of Quebec

People in William John Watts's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped William John Watts's

Frequently asked questions

Who was William John Watts?

Canadian politician

When was William John Watts born?

William John Watts was born on 1 May 1846 in Drummondville.

When did William John Watts die?

William John Watts died on 4 September 1907 in Drummondville.

What was William John Watts's occupation?

William John Watts was a politician, lawyer and businessperson.

What nationality was William John Watts?

William John Watts was Canadian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: William John Watts

· Wikidata: Q8013665

· DBpedia: William John Watts

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William John Watts. https://biography.guide/william-john-watts/

MLA: "William John Watts." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-john-watts/.

Chicago: "William John Watts." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-john-watts/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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