Dr Thomas Watson
(1792-1882)
29 July 1862

Volume 8, page 338, sitting number 10,975.

Thomas Watson was Professor of Medicine at Kings College, London and later President of the Royal College of Physicians.

He was appointed physician extraordinary to the Queen in 1859, and as such, in conjunction with Sir William Jenner and Sir Henry Holland, was called into medical attendance on Prince Albert in his last illness. He was created a baronet in 1866, and was appointed physician in ordinary to the Queen in 1870.

Sir Thomas Watson died at Reigate Lodge in Surrey on 11 December 1882.

According to his obituary in the Illustrated London News (23 December 1882): 'He was born March 7, 1792, the eldest son of Mr Joseph Watson, somtime of Thorpe-le-Soken, Essex, by Mary, his wife, daughter of Mr Thomas Catton, of West Dereham, Norfolk, and received his education at St John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated M.A. in 1818 and M.D. in 1825. The following year he was elected Fellow of the College of Physicians, and President in 1862. From 1827 to 1840 he was one of the Physicians to the Middlesex Hospital, and for some time Professor of Physic in King's College, London. Afterwards he was several years Physician Extraordinary to the Queen, and in 1870 was appointed Physician in Ordinary. [...] In recognition of his eminent professional position and services, he was created a Baronet in 1866. Sir Thomas married, in 1825, Sarah, daughter of Mr Edward Jones, of Brackley, county Northampton, and by her (who died in 1830) leaves one daughter and one son, now Sir Arthur Townley Watson, second Baronet.'