Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...

Sir George Willes Watson, (5 April 1827 – 26 April 1897) was a

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, North America and West Indies Station.

Naval career

Watson joined the

in 1841.William Loney RN
/ref> Promoted to

Commander Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain. ...

in 1858, he was given command of HMS ''Peterel'' in 1862. Promoted to

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

in 1864, he went on to command HMS ''Crocodile'', HMS ''Duncan'', HMS ''Victor Emanuel'' and HMS '' Temeraire''. During the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

he was accused of assisting the

Confederate States of America The Confederate States of America (CSA), commonly referred to as the Confederate States or the Confederacy was an unrecognized breakaway republic in the Southern United States that existed from February 8, 1861, to May 9, 1865. The Confeder ...

by selling the

cruiser A cruiser is a type of warship. Modern cruisers are generally the largest ships in a fleet after aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, and can usually perform several roles. The term "cruiser", which has been in use for several hu ...

CSS ''Florida'' to them. He was appointed

Commodore-in-Charge, Hong Kong HMS ''Tamar'' () was the name for the British Royal Navy's base in Hong Kong from 1897 to 1997. It took its name from HMS ''Tamar'', a ship that was used as the base until replaced by buildings ashore. History 19th century The British Navy ...

from March 1876 to March 1879. His next appointment was Admiral-Superintendent, Chatham in 1881 and Commander-in-Chief, North America and West Indies Station in 1888 before retiring in 1892. He was promoted to full

admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...

on 25 February 1892, and retired two months later.

Family

In 1864 he married Margaretta Campbell.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, George 1827 births 1897 deaths Royal Navy admirals Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath