Watson 2

ROBERT SPENCE WATSON (1837 - 1911)

Spence Watson was born at 10 Claremont Place, Gateshead, the son of a solicitor. In 1846, he became a pupil of Dr Collingwood Bruce in Newcastle, going on the Friends school at York. After London University, Spence Watson became his father's partner and was actively engaged in his profession throughout his life.

From his youthful years, Spence Watson was prominent in public affairs, being interested in a wide range of political, social, philanthropic and educational movements. He was a man of great influence in the region. In 1862, he became the honorary secretary of the Newcastle Lit and Phil and held office for 31 years. Between 1868 and 1883, he delivered 75 lectures to the society, mainly on the history and development of the English language. In 1871, Spence Watson helped to found the Durham College of Science, which later became Armstrong College and developed into Newcastle University. He became its first president in 1910. He was a pioneer of university extension in the North and of Newcastle Free Public Library. From 1885 to 1911 he was president of the Tyneside Sunday lecture Society, where speakers included Oscar Wilde.

As well as being very active at the highest level in Liberal politics and progressive movements abroad, Spence Watson was a pioneer in the settlement of trade disputes by arbitration and was sole umpire on 47 occasions in such disputes between 1884 and 1904. All of this was done on a voluntary basis. He died at Bensham Grove, his Gateshead house, where he had entertained both Rossetti and William Morris (qq.v.). Spence Watson published The History of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1897. He had assisted the progress of Joseph Skipsey, the pitman poet, and wrote Joseph Skipsey, his Life and Work in 1909. Among his numerous pamphlets is The History of English Rule and Policy in South Africa (1897). This had a circulation of 250,000, and was translated into French and Dutch.

Myers Literary Guide:	The North-East
ROBERT SPENCE WATSON (1837 - 1911) Spence Watson was born at 10 Claremont Place, Gateshead, the son of a solicitor. In 1846, he became a pupil of Dr Collingwood Bruce in Newcastle, going on the Friends school at York. After London University, Spence Watson became his father's partner and was actively engaged in his profession throughout his life. From his youthful years, Spence Watson was prominent in public affairs, being interested in a wide range of political, social, philanthropic and educational movements. He was a man of great influence in the region. In 1862, he became the honorary secretary of the Newcastle Lit and Phil and held office for 31 years. Between 1868 and 1883, he delivered 75 lectures to the society, mainly on the history and development of the English language. In 1871, Spence Watson helped to found the Durham College of Science, which later became Armstrong College and developed into Newcastle University. He became its first president in 1910. He was a pioneer of university extension in the North and of Newcastle Free Public Library. From 1885 to 1911 he was president of the Tyneside Sunday lecture Society, where speakers included Oscar Wilde. As well as being very active at the highest level in Liberal politics and progressive movements abroad, Spence Watson was a pioneer in the settlement of trade disputes by arbitration and was sole umpire on 47 occasions in such disputes between 1884 and 1904. All of this was done on a voluntary basis. He died at Bensham Grove, his Gateshead house, where he had entertained both Rossetti and William Morris (qq.v.). Spence Watson published The History of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1897. He had assisted the progress of Joseph Skipsey, the pitman poet, and wrote Joseph Skipsey, his Life and Work in 1909. Among his numerous pamphlets is The History of English Rule and Policy in South Africa (1897). This had a circulation of 250,000, and was translated into French and Dutch.
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