Charles Boog Watson

Charles Brodie Boog Watson FRSE FSA(Scot) (7 Nov 1858 - 16 Jan 1947[1]) was a 19th/20th-century Scottish engineer and antiquarian. His analytical and accurate approach to research makes him a historian's historian especially in the field of social history.

He left a large collection of books and documents to the city on his death, known as the Boog Watson Bequest.[2]

Life
16 Granville Terrace, Edinburgh

He was born on 7 November 1858 in Bombay in India the son of Rev Robert Boog Watson and his wife Janet Cowan, daughter of Alexander Cowan.

From 1869 to 1876 he was educated at Edinburgh Academy. During this period his parents lived with his uncle, Patrick Heron Watson in a Georgian townhouse at Hope Street off Charlotte Square.[3]

Not until 1895 does Charles appear as a home-owner (despite being married for several years). He than appears living at 16 Granville Terrace in the Merchiston district of Edinburgh. He is then listed for the first time as "engineer, West End Engine Works", these being at 170 Dundee Street.[4] He was later made a partner in this company.

In 1904 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were John Sturgeon Mackay, Patrick Heron Watson, Sir William Turner, and Alexander Crum Brown.[5]

He retired from engineering in 1908 and then applied himself to research and cataloguing of Edinburgh's history, being given his own room in Edinburgh City Chambers for this purpose.[6] He was an active member of the Old Edinburgh Club, producing the majority of their papers from 1920 to 1940.[7] In 1933 he joined the ruling council of the Cockburn Association, Edinburgh's influential conservation organisation.[8]

In the Second World War aged over 80, he served as an ARP warden in Edinburgh.[6]

He died at home, 24 Garscube Terrace in western Edinburgh on 16 January 1947 aged 88 and was cremated at Warriston Crematorium.[1]

Family

In 1882 he was married to Jane Ballantine Nairn. Their daughter Elspeth Janet Boog Watson became a noted writer.

His sister was Helen Brodie Cowan Watson.

His uncle was Patrick Heron Watson.

Publications
  • Some Notes on Moray House, Edinburgh (1915)
  • Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses and Guild Brethren 1406 to 1760 (1930)
  • The Maps of Edinburgh 1544 to 1929 (1932)
  • Traditions of the Watsons
  • History and Derivation of Edinburgh Street Names
  • Register of Edinburgh Apprentices 1666 to 1755

References
  1. Daily Mail 18 Jan 1947
  2. historians Guide to Early British Maps
  3. Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1866
  4. Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1895
  5. Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002 (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN 978-0-902198-84-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  6. "Charles Brodie Boog Watson". Tales of One City.
  7. Minutes of the Old Edinburgh Club
  8. "Historic Cockburn Association Office-Bearers".
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