Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Watson, George (1723?-1773)
WATSON, GEORGE (1723?–1773), divine, born in 1723 or 1724, was the son of Humphrey Watson of London. He matriculated from University College, Oxford, on 14 March 1739–40, graduating B.A. in 1743 and M.A. in 1746. He was elected to a scholarship on the Bennet foundation on 13 Dec. 1744, and was chosen on 27 Oct. 1747 to a fellowship on the same foundation, which he resigned on 20 March 1754. While at University College he was the tutor and friend of George Horne [q. v.], afterwards bishop of Norwich. Although little known to his contemporaries, he possessed solid learning and a sound judgment. Such eminent divines as Horne and William Jones of Nayland, who also knew him at Oxford, speak of his attainments in high terms. He held the theological opinions of John Hutchinson (1674–1737) [q. v.], to which he introduced Jones and Horne. Watson died on 16 April 1773. He was the author of: 1. ‘Christ the Light of the World,’ Oxford, 1750, 8vo. 2. ‘A Seasonable Admonition to the Church of England,’ Oxford, 1755, 8vo. 3. ‘Aaron's Intercession and Korah's Rebellion Considered,’ Oxford [1756], 8vo. 4. ‘The Doctrine of the Ever Blessed Trinity,’ London, 1756, 8vo. These four sermons were reprinted by John Matthew Gutch [q. v.] in 1860, under the title ‘Watson Redivivus’ (Oxford, 8vo).
[Jones's Life of Horne, 1795, pp. 25-30; Horne's Discourses, 1803, ii. 119, iv. 370; Notes and Queries, 2nd ser. viii. 396, ix. 14, x. 154, xi. 217, xii. 334; Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1715-1886; Watt's Bibliotheca Britannica; Gent. Mag. 1773 p. 203, 1861 ii. 685.]