J. Steven Watson

Who is J. Steven Watson?

John Steven Watson FRSE was an English historian who served as Principal of the University of St Andrews from 1966-86.

Having been educated at the Merchant Taylors' School, Steven Watson went up to St John's College Oxford where he took a first in history.

After serving at the Ministry of Fuel and Power during the war he returned to Oxford as a student and tutor at Christ Church where he established an international reputation as an historian of the eighteenth century. This led to him being asked to contribute the volume on The Reign of George III for the Oxford History of England following the death of Richard Pares.

He later became a liked and successful principal of St Andrews University in Fife, Scotland. He announced that he was to retire in September 1986 but died in June of that year.