Robert Spence Watson (8 June 1837 – 2 March 1911) was an English solicitor, reformer, politician and writer. He became famous for pioneering labour arbitrations.[1]
He was born in Gateshead, the second child of Sarah (Spence) and Joseph Watson.[2] Watson's father was a liberal radical.[3] After some early tutoring, he received his secondary education at Bootham School, York and began studying at University College, London in 1853; he did not complete his degree there, but during that time, and later, he travelled abroad.[1]
He returned to the North East in 1860 and became a solicitor. He began a legal practice with his father under the name J. & R S Watson and he remained in practice there for the rest of his life.[1]
Watson was president of the Newcastle Liberal and Radical Association from 1884 to 1897.[3] He was one of the original convenors of the National Liberal Federation in 1877, and was its president from 1890 until 1902.
He helped to found the Durham College of Science in 1871, later to become Armstrong College and part of Newcastle University. He became its first president in 1910. He was instrumental in the founding of the Newcastle Free Public Library.[1]
"The Proper Limits of Obedience to the Law" (1887)[11]
The History of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (1793-1896) (1897)[12]
"Northumbrian Story and Song" in Lectures Delivered to the Literary and Philosophical Society, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, on Northumbrian History, Literature, and Art (1898)[13]
The National Liberal Federation: From Its Commencement to the General Election of 1906 (1907)[14]
Joseph Skipsey: His Life and Work (1909) T. Fisher Unwin, London.
^"Robert Spence Watson (1837-1911), Solicitor and Social Activist | Philanthropy North East".
^ abc"Robert Spence Watson". American Journal of International Law. 5 (3): 752–753. 1911. doi:10.1017/S0002930000238323. ISSN 0002-9300.
^Free Russia; The Organ of the English Society of Friends of Russian Freedom, Volumes 11-15 (1900–1904) (Google eBook)
^Howe, Anthony; Morgan, Simon (2006). Rethinking nineteenth-century liberalism: Richard Cobden bicentenary essays. Ashgate. p. 239. ISBN0-7546-5572-5. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
^Gateshead commemoration plaques 26 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine
^Robert Spence Watson (1870) The Villages around Metz, J.M. Carr, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
^Robert Spence Watson (1875) Cædmon, the first English poet, Longmans, Green and Company, London
^"The history of English rule and policy in South Africa": a lecture delivered in the lecture room, Nelson Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, on Friday, 30 May 1879 in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
^Robert Spence Watson (1880) A Visit to Wazan: The Sacred City of Morocco, Macmillan and Company, London
^Robert Spence Watson (1887) The Proper Limits of Obedience to the Law, Howe Brothers, Gateshead-On-Tyne
^Robert Spence Watson (1897) The History of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (1793-1896), Walter Scott, Ltd, London
^Robert Spence Watson (1907) The National Liberal Federation: From Its Commencement to the General Election of 1906, T. Fisher Unwin, London
Sourcesedit
Percy Corder (1914) The Life of Robert Spence Watson, Headley Bros., London
John Morley, Joseph Cowen and Robert Spence Watson. Liberal Divisions in Newcastle Politics, 1873 - 1895, by E I Waitt, Thesis submitted for the degree of PhD at the University of Manchester, October 1972. Copies at Manchester University, Newcastle Central and Gateshead public libraries.
Entry on Robert Spence Watson, on Ben Beck's website
Entry on Robert Spence Watson, on the website of Watson Burton, the law firm of which he was a founding partner
External linksedit
Parliamentary Archives, Papers of Robert Spence Watson
robert, spence, watson, june, 1837, march, 1911, english, solicitor, reformer, politician, writer, became, famous, pioneering, labour, arbitrations, president, liberal, partypreceded, byjames, kitsonsucceeded, byaugustine, birrellpersonal, detailsborn, 1837, j. Robert Spence Watson 8 June 1837 2 March 1911 was an English solicitor reformer politician and writer He became famous for pioneering labour arbitrations 1 Robert Spence WatsonPresident of the Liberal PartyPreceded byJames KitsonSucceeded byAugustine BirrellPersonal detailsBorn 1837 06 08 8 June 1837Gateshead EnglandDied11 March 1911 1911 03 11 aged 73 Contents 1 Life and career 2 Works 3 References 4 Sources 5 External linksLife and career editHe was born in Gateshead the second child of Sarah Spence and Joseph Watson 2 Watson s father was a liberal radical 3 After some early tutoring he received his secondary education at Bootham School York and began studying at University College London in 1853 he did not complete his degree there but during that time and later he travelled abroad 1 Watson was a Quaker 3 He returned to the North East in 1860 and became a solicitor He began a legal practice with his father under the name J amp R S Watson and he remained in practice there for the rest of his life 1 In 1862 he became Secretary to the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne and held that position for thirty one years His work led to the Society accumulating the largest independent library outside London 1 On 9 June 1863 he married Elizabeth Richardson at the Friends meeting house Pilgrim Street Newcastle and they had six children 1 Watson was president of the Newcastle Liberal and Radical Association from 1884 to 1897 3 He was one of the original convenors of the National Liberal Federation in 1877 and was its president from 1890 until 1902 He helped to found the Durham College of Science in 1871 later to become Armstrong College and part of Newcastle University He became its first president in 1910 He was instrumental in the founding of the Newcastle Free Public Library 1 From 1890 till 1911 Watson was the president of the Society of Friends of Russian Freedom He contributed much to the society s printed organ Free Russia 4 He published The History of English Rule and Policy in South Africa in 1897 and joined the South Africa Conciliation Committee 5 In 1995 a blue commemorative plaque was erected outside his home 6 Works edit nbsp A Visit to Wazan The Author in Moorish Dress A Plan for Making the society more extensively useful as an educational institution 1868 The Villages around Metz 1870 7 Caedmon the first English poet 1875 8 The history of English rule and policy in South Africa 1879 J Forster Newcastle upon Tyne 9 A Visit to Wazan 1880 10 The Proper Limits of Obedience to the Law 1887 11 The History of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne 1793 1896 1897 12 Northumbrian Story and Song in Lectures Delivered to the Literary and Philosophical Society Newcastle upon Tyne on Northumbrian History Literature and Art 1898 13 The National Liberal Federation From Its Commencement to the General Election of 1906 1907 14 Joseph Skipsey His Life and Work 1909 T Fisher Unwin London References edit a b c d e f Watson Burton LLP law firm Robert Spence Watson 1837 1911 Solicitor and Social Activist Philanthropy North East a b c Robert Spence Watson American Journal of International Law 5 3 752 753 1911 doi 10 1017 S0002930000238323 ISSN 0002 9300 Free Russia The Organ of the English Society of Friends of Russian Freedom Volumes 11 15 1900 1904 Google eBook Howe Anthony Morgan Simon 2006 Rethinking nineteenth century liberalism Richard Cobden bicentenary essays Ashgate p 239 ISBN 0 7546 5572 5 Retrieved 21 July 2011 Gateshead commemoration plaques Archived 26 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine Robert Spence Watson 1870 The Villages around Metz J M Carr Newcastle Upon Tyne Robert Spence Watson 1875 Caedmon the first English poet Longmans Green and Company London The history of English rule and policy in South Africa a lecture delivered in the lecture room Nelson Street Newcastle upon Tyne on Friday 30 May 1879 in libraries WorldCat catalog Robert Spence Watson 1880 A Visit to Wazan The Sacred City of Morocco Macmillan and Company London Robert Spence Watson 1887 The Proper Limits of Obedience to the Law Howe Brothers Gateshead On Tyne Robert Spence Watson 1897 The History of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne 1793 1896 Walter Scott Ltd London Lectures 1898 Robert Spence Watson 1907 The National Liberal Federation From Its Commencement to the General Election of 1906 T Fisher Unwin LondonSources editPercy Corder 1914 The Life of Robert Spence Watson Headley Bros London John Morley Joseph Cowen and Robert Spence Watson Liberal Divisions in Newcastle Politics 1873 1895 by E I Waitt Thesis submitted for the degree of PhD at the University of Manchester October 1972 Copies at Manchester University Newcastle Central and Gateshead public libraries Entry on Robert Spence Watson on Ben Beck s website Entry on Robert Spence Watson on the website of Watson Burton the law firm of which he was a founding partnerExternal links editParliamentary Archives Papers of Robert Spence Watson Party political offices Preceded byJames Kitson President of the National Liberal Federation1890 1902 Succeeded byAugustine Birrell Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Spence Watson amp oldid 1219858140, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
