Charles Watson (governor)
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Charles Watson (1714 – August 16, 1757) naval officer and colonial governor of Newfoundland, died at Calcutta, India.
Watson entered the navy in 1728 and in 1748 became governor of Newfoundland and commander-in-chief of Cape Breton. As governor of Newfoundland he set about to deport Irish and Scots Catholics from the colony.
Watson's quick rise through the ranks is thought to be attributed from his uncle, Sir Charles Wager, was first lord of the admiralty.
There is a memorial to Watson in Westminster Abbey, London.
[edit] Battle of Plassey
The English settlement at Fort William, India sought assistance from Presidency of Fort St. George at Madras, which sent Colonel Robert Clive and Admiral Charles Watson. They re-captured Calcutta on January 2, 1757, but the Nawab marched again on Calcutta on February 5, 1757, and was surprised by a dawn attack by the English [1]. This resulted in the Treaty of Alinagar on February 7, 1757 [2].
Service history:
-
- 1728 joined the Royal Navy as a volunteer per order on the Romney,
- 1734 promoted lieutenant,
- 1738 promoted captain and given command of the Guarland,
- 1748 governor of Newfoundland,
- 1748 promoted rear-admiral of the blue
- 1748 commander-in-chief of Cape Breton,
- 1754 commander-in-chief, East Indies,
- 1757 vice-admiral of the white
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Biography at Government House The Governorship of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
- Memorial described at UK National Maritime Museum - Maritime Memorials
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: James Douglas |
Commodore Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador 1748 — 1748 |
Succeeded by: George Brydges Rodney |
- Note: The position of governor of the colony had temporarily lapsed after the departure of Richard Edwards and therefore Douglas was not a governor of the island but commodore. Also, no commodore or governor was sent in 1747, the next governor was Charles Watson.
