Sir Thomas Edward Watson Bart.

(Photo and text from "Who's Who In Newport" 1920.)

Watson, Sir Thomas Edward Bart. who has been connected with the port of Newport for more than 40 years, was born 1st January, 1851, and is the eldest son of the late Edward Watson, West Hartlepool. Married in 1874, Mary Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of the late Thomas Harrison and Sarah Jane Lewen, Scarborough. Is the father of two sons and one daughter. Was High Sheriff of Monmouthshire in 1911. He is today one of the directors of Messrs. Pyman, Watson & Co. Ltd., shipowners and colliery proprietors, which firm originally opened business here in 1874, and is now one of the most important concerns in South Wales. In 1889, on the passing of the Newport Corporation Act for the reconstruction of the Harbour Commission, he was elected a member of the latter body, in representation of the shipowners, and was chairman of the board for the year ending June, 1901. Was chairman of the Dredging committee, 1893-1917; and a member of the Newport Pilotage Commission 1896-1917; president of the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce, 1914-8 ; chairman of the Board of Trade Coal and Coke Supplies committee for South Wales and Monmouthshire; chairman of the Cardiff committee for the supply of Coal to France and Italy during the war. A member of the Glamorgan Appeal Tribunal on recruiting; member of the Severn Commission and of the Committee of Lloyd's Register; a vice-president of the King Edward Hospital, Cardiff, and the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport; a governor of the Welsh National Memorial to the late King Edward. Entered the office of George Pyman & Co., West Hartlepool, 1865; built his first steamer, "Spray", of West Hartlepool, 1873, which the following year effected the salvage of the derelict French steamer "Amerique" and her cargo, the most valuable salvage which had ever been effected up to that date. Purchased the Ffaldau Collieries in 1883; established Patent Fuel Works in France, 1902; purchased the Fleet of the London and Northern Steamship Co., 1916. In 1896 he was president of the Newport Chamber of Commerce Incorporated, and has twice been a vice-president of that body. He is a director of the Port Talbot Railway and Docks Co. He has taken a great interest in the Newport Museum. He is on the Commission of the Peace both for the County and the Borough. Recreations: Collection of early printed books and MSS., being the proud possessor of a Shakespeare first folio; hunting, breeding pedigree shorthorns. His elder son, Wilfrid Hood Watson, is the heir to the baronetcy, which was created in 1918. His younger son, Lieut. Geoffrey Watson, served in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Addresses : St. Mary's Lodge, Gold Tops, Newport. Tel. 2712. Merthyr House, Cardiff. Tel. 1457. Catsash Farm and Kemeys Folly, Monmouthshire. Clubs ; Devonshire, Cardiff County and Newport County.