A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Watson, John
WATSON. (Commander, 1814. f-p., 28; h-p., 36.)
John Watson is the son of the late Major Watson. This officer entered the Navy, in 1783, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Bombay Castle 74, Capts. Herbert Sawyer and Robt. Fanshawe, lying at Plymouth, where he remained for three years. He was employed next, from 1788 until Feb. 1794, in the North Sea, on the coast of Africa, and in the Channel, part of the time as Midshipman, in the Otter sloop, Capts. John Okes Hardy, Thos. Williams, and Jas. Hardy, Charon 44, Capt. Edm. Dodd, and Bellona 74, Capt. Geo. Wilson; and on 11 Aug. in the latter year, after having further served on the coast of France, in diiferent ships, under Vice-Admiral John M‘Bride, to whom he acted for a period as Flag-Lieutenant, he was officially promoted into his former ship, the Bombay Castle, Capt. Chas. Chamberlayne. Her he left in the ensuing Nov. During the remainder of the war, from March, 1795, until April, 1802, he was employed on the Home station in the Syren 32, Capt. Graham Moore, Shark gun-vessel, commanded by himself, Cynthia 16, Capt. Micajah Malbon, Neptune 98, Capt. Jas. Vashon, and Standard 64, Capt. Chas. Stewart. From 15 Dec. 1803 until 12 Aug. 1814 he commanded the Aggressor 12, chiefly in the Channel. He has since been on half-pay. His commission as Commander bears date 15 June, 1814.