William Whitehead Watts

William Whitehead Watts FRS HFRSE FGS FMS LLD (7 June 1860 – 30 July 1947) was a British geologist.

Life He was born near Broseley in Shropshire, the eldest of two sons of Isaac Watts, not the hymnwriter of that name but a music master, and his wife, Maria Whitehead, daughter of a farmer.

He was educated at Bitterley and Shifnal Grammar Schools then went to Denstone College. and the Wollaston Medal of the Geological Society. In 1934 he was elected an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

He retired in 1930 and died on 30 July 1947 aged 87.

Publications He edited British Geological Photographs Geology for Beginners (1898) Shropshire, the Geography of the County (1919) Geology of the Ancient Rocks of Charnwood Forest (1947)

Family He married twice, firstly in 1891 to Louisa Adelaide Atchison, who died in 1894, then he married Rachel Atchison (nee Rodgers) the widowed sister-in-law of his first wife.