Burges Watson
Born(1846-09-24)24 September 1846
Died21 September 1902(1902-09-21) (aged 55)
Malta
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
RankRear Admiral
Commands heldHMS Leander
HMS Royal Oak
Pembroke Dockyard
Malta Dockyard
AwardsCommander of the Royal Victorian Order

Rear Admiral Burges Watson, CVO (24 September 1846 – 21 September 1902)[1] was a Royal Navy officer who became Admiral Superintendent, Malta Dockyard.

Naval career

Watson entered the Royal Navy in 1860, was promoted to lieutenant in 1866, and to commander in 1879.[2]

Promoted to captain on 31 December 1885,[3] Watson became commanding officer of the cruiser HMS Leander in February 1889 and commanding officer of the battleship HMS Royal Oak in January 1896.[4] He went on to be Captain Superintendent of Pembroke Dockyard from October 1896 until October 1899. A naval Aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria from 1898 to 1899, he was promoted to flag rank as rear-admiral on 25 August 1899,[5] and appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) the same year.[1] The following year, he was appointed Admiral Superintendent, Malta Dockyard in February 1900.[6] When Lord Charles Beresford resigned as Second-in-Command of the Mediterranean Fleet in January 1902, Watson was appointed to succeed him, taking over the battleship HMS Ramillies as his flag ship.[7]

Watson was landed at Malta on 19 September 1902 due to a severe attack of pneumonia, and died there on 21 September 1902.[2][8] He was buried at the old naval cemetery at Bighi two days later.[9]

Family

Wilson married, in 1882, Marie Thérèse Fisher, daughter of C. F. Fisher.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Watson, Rear-Adm. Burges, (24 Sept. 1846–21 Sept. 1902)." WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. Oxford University Press.
  2. ^ a b "Obituary -Rear-Admiral Burges Watson". The Times. No. 36879. London. 22 September 1902. p. 4.
  3. ^ "No. 25545". The London Gazette. 1 January 1886. p. 7.
  4. ^ "Captains commanding Royal Navy Warships" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  5. ^ "No. 27119". The London Gazette. 22 September 1899. p. 5814.
  6. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36046. London. 23 January 1900. p. 12.
  7. ^ The Navy List. (May, 1902). p. 216.
  8. ^ "Burges Watson, Rear Admiral R.N". Geni. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  9. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36881. London. 24 September 1902. p. 4.
Military offices Preceded byCharles J Balfour Captain-Superintendent, Pembroke Dockyard 1896–1899 Succeeded byCharles James Barlow Preceded byRodney Lloyd Admiral Superintendent, Malta Dockyard 1900–1902 Succeeded byJames Hammet
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