John Steven Watson FRSE (20 March 1916 – 12 June 1986) was an English historian who served as

Principal of the University of St Andrews The Principal of the University of St Andrews is the chief executive and chief academic of the University. The Principal is responsible for the overall running of the university, presiding over the main academic body of the university, known as the ...

from 1966–86.

Life

He was born on 20 March 1916 the son of George Watson and his wife, Elizabeth Layborn Gall. He was educated at the Merchant Taylors' School, then studied History at St John's College, Oxford where he graduated MA in 1939. He was a Harmsworth Senior Scholar at Merton College, Oxford, from 1939 to 1942. After serving at the

Ministry of Fuel and Power The Ministry of Power was a United Kingdom government ministry dealing with issues concerning energy. The Ministry of Power (then named Ministry of Fuel and Power) was created on 11 June 1942 from functions separated from the Board of Trade. ...

during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

he returned to Oxford as a postgraduate student and tutor at Christ Church, where he then established an international reputation as an historian of the eighteenth century. This led to him being asked to contribute the volume on The Reign of George III for the

Oxford History of England The Oxford History of England (1934–1965) was a notable book series on the history of the United Kingdom. Published by Oxford University Press, it was originally intended to span from Roman Britain to the outbreak of the First World War in fourte ...

following the death of Richard Pares. In 1966 he became principal of

St Andrews University (Aien aristeuein) , motto_lang = grc , mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best , established = , type = Public research university Ancient university , endowment ...

in Fife, Scotland and served this role successfully for 20 years. In 1968 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were Anthony Elliot Ritchie, Norman Davidson,

Robert Schlapp Robert Schlapp FRSE (18 July 1899 – 31 May 1991) was a 20th century British physicist and mathematician of German descent. He was affectionately known as Robin Schlapp. Life He was born in Edinburgh on 18 July 1899, the youngest of three c ...

and Neil Campbell, Lord Balerno.

DePauw University DePauw University is a private liberal arts university in Greencastle, Indiana. It has an enrollment of 1,972 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw is a member of both the ...

awarded him an honorary doctorate (DLitt) in 1967. In 1972 he received a further honorary doctorate in Humane Letters (DHum) from St Andrews. He announced that he planned to retire in September 1986 but died in June of that year during a visit to

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

Family

In 1942 he married Heba Sylvia de Cordova Newbery. They had two sons: John Philip and Paul Michael.

Publications

*''The Oxford History of England'' (1960) *''The Reign of George III'' (1960) *''A History of the Salters Company'' (1963)

Artistic Recognition

His portrait by David Donaldson is held by

St Andrews University (Aien aristeuein) , motto_lang = grc , mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best , established = , type = Public research university Ancient university , endowment ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, John. Steven 1916 births 1986 deaths Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh People from Hebburn Principals of the University of St Andrews People educated at Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood Alumni of St John's College, Oxford Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford Fellows of Christ Church, Oxford English civil servants 20th-century English historians Alumni of Merton College, Oxford