Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...

Sir George Willes Watson, (5 April 1827 – 26 April 1897) was a

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, North America and West Indies Station.

Naval career

Watson joined the

in 1841.William Loney RN
/ref> Promoted to

commander Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank as well as a job title in many army, armies. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countri ...

in 1858, he was given command of HMS ''Peterel'' in 1862. Promoted to

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

in 1864, he went on to command HMS ''Crocodile'', HMS ''Duncan'', HMS ''Victor Emanuel'' and HMS '' Temeraire''. During the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

he was accused of assisting the

Confederate States of America The Confederate States of America (CSA), also known as the Confederate States (C.S.), the Confederacy, or Dixieland, was an List of historical unrecognized states and dependencies, unrecognized breakaway republic in the Southern United State ...

by selling the

cruiser A cruiser is a type of warship. Modern cruisers are generally the largest ships in a fleet after aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, and can usually perform several operational roles from search-and-destroy to ocean escort to sea ...

CSS ''Florida'' to them. He was appointed Commodore-in-Charge, Hong Kong from March 1876 to March 1879. His next appointment was Admiral-Superintendent, Chatham in 1881 and Commander-in-Chief, North America and West Indies Station in 1888 before retiring in 1892. He was promoted to full

admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...

on 25 February 1892, and retired two months later.

Family

In 1864 he married Margaretta Campbell.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, George 1827 births 1897 deaths Royal Navy admirals Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath