John Bertrand Watson
Encyclopedia
Sir Bertrand Watson (16 May 1878 – 16 February 1948) was an English lawyer
, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate and Liberal Party
politician.
, the son of John Wilson Watson, JP
, a timber merchant from Stockton. He was educated at Harrogate College
. In 1909, he married Ethelwynne Gladys Jameson, also from Stockton and they had a son and two daughters.
for County Durham
. In 1919 he was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn and was later a Bencher
. When he was first appointed a magistrate
in 1928 he sat at the North London Court. In 1931 he was transferred to Clerkenwell
where he stayed until 1936 when he resigned through ill-health, having suffered a series of heart attacks. In 1938 he was well enough to be re-instated and he was appointed to sit at Lambeth
Court and then from 1941 onwards at Bow Street
.
Later in 1941, on the death of the sitting Chief Magistrate, Sir Robert Dummett, Watson was appointed to succeed him. Among the cases he presided over was the committal for trial for treason of William Joyce, Lord Haw-Haw
in 1945.
. He easily held the seat as a Coalition Liberal.
At the 1918 general election
Watson was returned unopposed as a Coalition Liberal. At the 1922 general election
he faced a three-cornered contest against a Labour candidate Frederick Fox Riley (later MP for Stockton-on-Tees
from 1929-1931) and an Independent Liberal, Robert Strother Stewart
, a supporter of H H Asquith. He held his seat beating Riley by a majority of 1,213 votes. However he chose not to stand at the 1923 general election
when Stewart won the seat, beating future Conservative Prime Minister Harold Macmillan
.
to the Rt Hon. Edward Shortt
, KC, MP when he was Home Secretary
in 1919.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate and Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician.
Family and education
Watson was born in Stockton-on-TeesStockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees is a market town in north east England. It is the major settlement in the unitary authority and borough of Stockton-on-Tees. For ceremonial purposes, the borough is split between County Durham and North Yorkshire as it also incorporates a number of smaller towns including...
, the son of John Wilson Watson, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, a timber merchant from Stockton. He was educated at Harrogate College
Harrogate College
Harrogate College is a further education college in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. It traces its origins to the University Extension movement, which began in 1873 under the auspices of Cambridge University. It offers several levels of qualifications, including further- and higher-education...
. In 1909, he married Ethelwynne Gladys Jameson, also from Stockton and they had a son and two daughters.
Career
Watson studied the law and was admitted as a solicitor in 1900, passing his final examination with honours. From 1902-1911 he served as Deputy CoronerCoroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
for County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
. In 1919 he was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn and was later a Bencher
Bencher
A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister , in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law...
. When he was first appointed a magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
in 1928 he sat at the North London Court. In 1931 he was transferred to Clerkenwell
Clerkenwell
Clerkenwell is an area of central London in the London Borough of Islington. From 1900 to 1965 it was part of the Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury. The well after which it was named was rediscovered in 1924. The watchmaking and watch repairing trades were once of great importance...
where he stayed until 1936 when he resigned through ill-health, having suffered a series of heart attacks. In 1938 he was well enough to be re-instated and he was appointed to sit at Lambeth
Lambeth
Lambeth is a district of south London, England, and part of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated southeast of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...
Court and then from 1941 onwards at Bow Street
Bow Street
Bow Street is a thoroughfare in Covent Garden, Westminster, London. It features as one of the streets on the standard London Monopoly board....
.
Later in 1941, on the death of the sitting Chief Magistrate, Sir Robert Dummett, Watson was appointed to succeed him. Among the cases he presided over was the committal for trial for treason of William Joyce, Lord Haw-Haw
Lord Haw-Haw
Lord Haw-Haw was the nickname of several announcers on the English-language propaganda radio programme Germany Calling, broadcast by Nazi German radio to audiences in Great Britain on the medium wave station Reichssender Hamburg and by shortwave to the United States...
in 1945.
Politics
Watson had a career in local government as a member of Durham County Council from 1912-1919 and on Stockton Town Council, of which he was Mayor in 1915-1916. In 1917, the town’s sitting Liberal MP died and Watson was chosen as the candidate for the resulting by-electionStockton-on-Tees by-election, 1917
The Stockton-on-Tees by-election, 1917 was a parliamentary by-election held for the House of Commons constituency of Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham on 20 March 1917.-Vacancy:...
. He easily held the seat as a Coalition Liberal.
At the 1918 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1918
The United Kingdom general election of 1918 was the first to be held after the Representation of the People Act 1918, which meant it was the first United Kingdom general election in which nearly all adult men and some women could vote. Polling was held on 14 December 1918, although the count did...
Watson was returned unopposed as a Coalition Liberal. At the 1922 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1922
The United Kingdom general election of 1922 was held on 15 November 1922. It was the first election held after most of the Irish counties left the United Kingdom to form the Irish Free State, and was won by Andrew Bonar Law's Conservatives, who gained an overall majority over Labour, led by John...
he faced a three-cornered contest against a Labour candidate Frederick Fox Riley (later MP for Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton-on-Tees (UK Parliament constituency)
Stockton-on-Tees is a former borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
from 1929-1931) and an Independent Liberal, Robert Strother Stewart
Robert Strother Stewart
Robert Strother Stewart was an English lawyer, colonial judge and Liberal Party politician.-Family and education:...
, a supporter of H H Asquith. He held his seat beating Riley by a majority of 1,213 votes. However he chose not to stand at the 1923 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1923
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987*-External links:***...
when Stewart won the seat, beating future Conservative Prime Minister Harold Macmillan
Harold Macmillan
Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC was Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 10 January 1957 to 18 October 1963....
.
Appointments
Watson was briefly Parliamentary Private SecretaryParliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
to the Rt Hon. Edward Shortt
Edward Shortt
Edward Shortt PC KC was a British lawyer and Liberal Party politician. He served as a member of David Lloyd George's cabinet, notably as Home Secretary from 1919 to 1922.-Background and education:...
, KC, MP when he was Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
in 1919.