John Watson Tadwell Watson (1748–1826) was a British army officer. Born in London in 1748, Watson entered the

3rd Regiment of Foot Guards The Scots Guards (SG) is one of the five Foot Guards regiments of the British Army. Its origins are as the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland. Its lineage can be traced back to 1642, although it was only placed on the ...

as an Ensign in April 1767 and on 28 April 1773 became captain. In that rank, in mid-1778, he sailed to join the Guards detachment that had been drafted for service in North America. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel and given command of a corps of British American light infantry, having replaced

Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington General Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington (17 March 17535 September 1829), styled Viscount Petersham until 1779, was a British Army officer and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1774 and 1779 when he succeeded to the pe ...

. Fifteen men from each company of the

1st Regiment of Foot Guards "Shamed be whoever thinks ill of it." , colors = , colors_label = , march = Slow: " Scipio" , mascot = , equipment = , equipment ...

Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards The Coldstream Guards is the oldest continuously serving regular regiment in the British Army. As part of the Household Division, one of its principal roles is the protection of the monarchy; due to this, it often participates in state ceremonia ...

and the 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards, formed a composite battalion of Foot Guards to be sent to North America. The composite battalion was subsequently split into two battalions. He was promoted to colonel in 1783 and to general in April 1808. He has been described as 'typical of many a Guards officer down the years, seemingly puffed up with self-importance and reluctant to obey or cooperate with ranking officers.' He married Frances, daughter of John Crewe, of Cheshire, England.Cheshire Parish Registers, 1538-2000 He died in Calais, France, on 11 June 1826.

References

1748 births 1826 deaths Date of birth missing British Army generals British Army personnel of the American Revolutionary War 19th-century British Army personnel Military personnel from London Scots Guards officers {{British-Army-bio-stub