Robert Watson (c. 1756–November 1, 1819) was a British sailor who arrived in Australia with the

First Fleet The First Fleet were eleven British ships which transported a group of settlers to mainland Australia, marking the beginning of the History of Australia (1788–1850), European colonisation of Australia. It consisted of two Royal Navy vessel ...

as quartermaster of the ship . Robert Watson was born in

Northumberland Northumberland ( ) is a ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in North East England, on the Anglo-Scottish border, border with Scotland. It is bordered by the North Sea to the east, Tyne and Wear and County Durham to the south, Cumb ...

. In 1801 Watson was granted land at South Head in

Sydney Harbour Port Jackson, commonly known as Sydney Harbour, is a ria, natural harbour on the east coast of Australia, around which Sydney was built. It consists of the waters of Sydney Harbour, Middle Harbour, North Harbour and the Lane Cove River, Lane ...

, in what is now known as

Watsons Bay Watsons Bay is a harbourside, Eastern Suburbs (Sydney), eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Watsons Bay is located 11 km north-east of the Sydney central business district, in the Local government in Australia, ...

. In 1929, a seat to commemorate Watson was erected in Robertson Park with an inaccurate inscription, reading "To commemorate Robert Watson after whom this Bay is named Quartermaster of H.M.S. Sirius 1786-1790 Signal-Man South Head 1791-1811 Pilot and Harbour Master 1811-1816 Superintendent of Macquarie Lighthouse 1818 Died 1st November 1819". There is no record of Watson's wife, but while in

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

, Watson had two sons and a daughter with her. Watson requested leave due to an illness in October 1819, and died on November 1, 1819, at his home. He was buried in the Sandhills Cemetery, but his remains were later moved to La Perouse in 1901.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Robert Settlers of Australia People from Sydney 1750s births 1819 deaths Watsons Bay, New South Wales Australian harbourmasters Colony of New South Wales people