He was born in Elora, Canada West, the son of George Watson and Elizabeth McDonald, both natives of Scotland, and became a millwright there. In 1876, he moved to Manitoba and built mills at Portage la Prairie and Stonewall. In partnership with his brother, he operated a machine shop and planing mills. Watson was also president of the Manitoba and Saskatchewan Coal Company[1] and the Central Electric Company. Watson married Isobel Brown in 1880. He served two years as a member of the town council for Portage la Prairie before entering federal politics. Watson resigned his seat in the House of Commons in 1892 to enter provincial politics. He served in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Public Works from 1892 to 1900. He died in office in Brandon at the age of 76.[1]
