Watson entered the Royal Navy in 1860, was promoted to
lieutenant in 1866, and to
commander in 1879. Watson became commanding officer of the
cruiser HMS Leander in February 1889 and commanding officer of the
battleship HMS Royal Oak in January 1896. He went on to be Captain Superintendent of
Pembroke Dockyard from October 1896 until October 1899. A naval
Aide-de-camp to
Queen Victoria from 1898 to 1899, he was promoted to flag rank as
rear-admiral on 25 August 1899, and appointed a Commander of the
Royal Victorian Order (CVO) the same year. When
Lord Charles Beresford resigned as Second-in-Command of the
Mediterranean Fleet in January 1902, Watson was appointed to succeed him, taking over the battleship
HMS Ramillies as his flag ship. Watson was landed at Malta on 19 September 1902 due to a severe attack of
pneumonia, and died there on 21 September 1902. He was buried at the old naval cemetery at
Bighi two days later. ==Family==