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==