John Watson (advocate) facts for kids

Sir John Charles Watson MBE KC was an important lawyer and judge from Scotland. He was born on 9 July 1883 and passed away on 8 February 1944. From 1929 to 1931, he worked as the main legal advisor for the Scottish government. This role is called the Solicitor General for Scotland.

He was a long-time member of the Scottish Liberal Party. However, his plans to become a politician did not work out after he served in World War I. Instead, he focused on his legal career. He became very successful as a lawyer. Over time, he also became closer to the Labour Party. This led to his important job as a legal officer in 1929.

Early Life and Education

Watson was born in Paisley on 9 July 1883. His father, Henry C. Watson, was the editor of a local newspaper. It was called the Paisley Daily Express.

John Watson went to school in Paisley at the John Neilson Institution. After that, he studied at the University of Glasgow. He earned a degree in arts in 1905. Then, he got a law degree in 1908. In 1909, he became a member of the Faculty of Advocates. This meant he could work as a lawyer in Scotland.

Legal and Military Career

With help from his friends in the Liberal Party, Watson built a very good legal practice. He often worked on cases related to Parliament.

Service in World War I

Watson served in the military during World War I. He first joined the Royal Fusiliers. He served in places like the Mediterranean and Egypt.

Later, he joined the Royal Flying Corps. This group later became the Royal Air Force. He became a captain. From 1916, he was based in Palestine. He even flew a secret mission to meet Lawrence of Arabia.

His bravery was noted in official reports. In 1918, he was given an award. He became a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

Return to Law

After the war, many expected him to run for Parliament. He was thought to be the Liberal candidate for a special election in Paisley in 1920. However, the party chose H. H. Asquith instead. Asquith was a former Prime Minister.

Watson then decided to focus fully on his legal career. He became one of Scotland's most famous lawyers. In 1928, he helped Oscar Slater win an appeal. This was a very important case.

In April 1929, he became a King's Counsel. This is a special title for very experienced lawyers. Just two months later, in June 1929, he was appointed as the Solicitor General for Scotland. This was a high-ranking legal job for the government.

Even though his views had moved closer to the Labour Party, he was never an official member. In November 1931, he was made a knight. He was also appointed as a Sheriff of Caithness, Orkney and Shetland. This meant he became a judge for those areas.

Later Life and War Efforts

In his free time, Sir John supported the armed forces. He especially helped the Highland regiments. During World War II, his son served overseas in the Royal Air Force. Sir John himself worked on several government committees.

He was the chairman of the Scottish Woolen Comforts Council. This group helped provide warm clothes to soldiers. His wife also helped by giving woollens to RAF personnel.

Family Life

Watson married Dr Olive Robertson in 1915. They had one son together.

Death

Sir John Charles Watson died suddenly on 8 February 1944. He was on a train from London to Edinburgh. He was 60 years old.

An investigation found that he died from a heart condition. He had been weakened by the flu about six weeks before.