Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Saturday 23 June 1923, page 8


MR. GEORGE WATSON.

DEATH FROM PNEUMONIA,

A large circle of friends in Queensland will learn with deep regret that Mr. George Watson, a prominent member of the commercial community of Brisbane, and a well known figure in municipal politics of earlier years, died on Thursday night from pneumonia. The late Mr. Watson was born at Glasgow, on April 11, 1852, and arrived in Brisbane with his father, whose name also was George, by the ship Ocean Chief, at the age of 10. He was educated at the Brisbane Normal School, and at the age of 13 commenced his ap-prenticeship, as a plumber, under his father, who founded the firm of Watson Bros., Ltd. His father resigned the position of principal of the firm in 1880, and Mr. George Watson, assisted by his three brothers Messrs. Thomas, James, and John Douglas Watson took over the busi-ness, and changed the firm name to Wat-son Bros. Messrs. Thomas and James

THE LATE MR. GEORGE WATSON.

-Fegan photo.

Watson left the business about 1998, and Mr. J. D. Watson in 1902. Subsequently   Mr George Watson took his son Frank into the business, and later his other two sons (George and Norman Mayor), and four daughters, and his foreman (Mr. Dowd Gammie) were admitted into the firm. The business was then formed into a limited company, of which the late Mr Watson became managing director. The deceased gentleman was a member of Hiram Masonic Lodge and the Clayfield Bowling Club. He was an alderman of Brisbane from 1891 -1896. He was elected Mayor in 1892 and owing to being in charge of the relief operations in February 1893-the year of the great floods in Brisbane- his term was extended for a portion of that year. The late Mr. Watson had resided in Brisbane continuously from the time of his arrival, with the exception of the time occupied in making four trips to the Old Country.

He was of a cheerful and genial nature, and very popular with all with whom he came in contact. One of his sons-Norman Mayor-made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War, in 1918. Another son died when a few years old and a daughter about 16 years ago. The deceased is survived by two sons -Messrs Geo. W. and J. F. Watson-and by four daughtersMiss E. L. Watson, Mrs. W. Whyte, Mrs. C. Eldred and Mrs. J. R. S. Wyllie. Two sisters also survive him, Mrs. W. Williams and Mrs. A. E. Sewell. The funeral (motor) will leave his late residence. The   Pagoda Old Sandgate Road, Albion at 10 30 o'clock this morning for the Toowong Cemetery.