Major-General David Watson (1704-1762)
Youngest son of Robert Watson of Muirhouse, that fought at Culloden for the British Army and developed the concept of the first ordinance survey maps of Britain.
Born 29th June 1704 in Muirhouse, Edinburgh, David Watson was the youngest son of successful merchant and solicitor, Robert Watson Esq. of Muirhouse (1659-1709) and his wife Mary Baird (1666-1714), daughter of Robert Baird 1st Baronet of Saughtonhall.
According to the Ancient and Modern State of the Parish of Cramond by John Philip Wood, The Watson family of Muirhouse were descended from the ancient family of Saughton, despite some clear close connections however we are yet to prove this link.
Both of David Watson’s parents died before he had reached his teenage years. His father’s barony of Muirhouse, which he purchased in 1697 from the creditors of it previously bankrupt owner, passed to the eldest son Robert Watson (1692-1722), and it’s likely that David was taken in and cared for by his eldest sister Elizabeth Watson (1690-1734) and her husband Robert Dundas of Arnistoun, Lord Advocate and Lord President of the Court of Sessions.
This all happened around the 1707 “Act of Union” that officially united Scotland and England into Great Britain and brought with it an age of enlightenment. Something that the Dundas family were heavily involved in and saw themselves as standard-bearers of Scottish enlightenment.
Characteristically of younger relatives of gentry, David Watson expressed an interest in the military. In 1725 Robert Dundas, used his influence to secure a commission for his brother-in-law in the British Army and David Watson was appointed as an ensign in Colonel Middleton’s regiment and later 25th Foot.
Skilled in fortifications, in field engineering, and as a draughtsman, he was attached to the ordnance train from 1742, he saw action in Flanders in 1745 but was recalled to Britain that autumn to fight against the Jacobite uprising. During the uprising he was involved in the First and Second Siege of Carlisle, Battle of Falkirk Muir for which he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and the Battle of Culloden the command of Duke of Cumberland was made Quartermaster General, which put him charge of the army’s provisions.
After Culloden Watson remained in the area to design and manage the erection of barracks at Inversnaid, between Loch Katrine and Loch Lomond, and in 1747 he also designed a new magazine for Edinburgh Castle.
His designs were all later entered into the collection of the British Museum.
In 1747 Watson made plans for a survey of North Britain and particularly the highlands, as he believed that ignorance of the terrain had hampered attempts to suppress support for the Jacobites. The advantage of this was clearly appreciated by King George II who directed that it should proceed with immediate effect. Watson was put in charge of this, and appointed the title of deputy-quartermaster-general in Scotland, with a brigade of engineers to act under his orders and assisted by his nephew David Dundas and William Roy and artist Paul Sandby.
Watson had an office in Edinburgh Castle which would have been property of the Board of Ordnance for whom he worked at the time. It would seem likely that this area of the castle became the headquarters and drawing office of the Military Survey.
The great survey was completed in 1754, all 94 rolls of it, and then revised in 1755 and reduced in scale to be entered the collection of the British Museum. The survey was eventually reduced by Watson and Roy, engraved in a single sheet, published as “The King's Map”.
By his late forties, Watson was living in Westminster and was later forced to admit that his health “was very indifferent” and that he was “obliged to keep to my room from severe attacks of the Gravel (gallstones) that immediately followed my gout”.
David Watson died in London on 7 November 1761, while holding the appointment of Major-General of His Majesty’s Armies, after a long illness; he was tended to on his deathbed by his housekeeper, Sophia Wilson, whose devotion he mentioned in his will and to whom he left a generous annuity of £30 “for her own proper use… and noways subject to the disposal of her husband”.
His death was reported in the “Gentleman’s Magazine”, a monthly news digest of news for the gentry. A friend had celebrated what he considered to be Watson’s greatest achievement: the pacification of the Highlands.
“Watson has made Scotland more his study than any man alive. He knows every Corner of the Kingdom, he is acquainted personally with all Ranks & Degrees, knows their principles, views, connections & importance, in what they can be trusted & where they cannot. In case of any disturbance in this Country, there is no person of what rank soever can be of such service to his majesties interest as Colonel Watson.”
Watson never married, but he did provide for his “natural son David Watson”, to be apprenticed when old enough and an annuity of £12 “to assist in paying his education and maintenance until he arrives as the age of sixteen years”.
David George Watson was born 28 March 1759 and baptised the following day by father David Watson and Sophia, who we assume is Sophia Wilson his devoted housekeeper.
FURTHER READING
1. David Watson (British Army Officer) on Wikipedia
2. Map of a Nation: A Biography of the Ordinance Survey by Rachael Hewitt
3. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Note: Incorrectly states David Watson’s father is Thomas Watson of Muirhouse. This has been disproven through the use of BMD documents and Will & Testaments.)