George Edward Watts Explained

George Edward Watts (1786  - December 2, 1860^[1]) commanded a Royal Navy ship during the War of 1812.^[2]

He was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia,^[2] the son of John Watts and Agnes Skene,^[3] and entered the Royal Navy in 1797. He served in Halifax, the West Indies and the North Sea. Watts commanded HMS Jaseur during the War of 1812, capturing more than 30 ships. He was promoted to captain in 1814, to Rear-admiral in 1849 and to Vice-Admiral in 1856.^[2] In 1820, he married Jane Waldie.^[3]

Watts died at Malvern at the age of 74.^[2] He is commemorated in the Admiralty Garden in CFB Halifax.

Further reading

• William Richard . O'Byrne . Watts, George Edward . A Naval Biographical Dictionary . 1849 . John Murray.
• Our roots
• James Naval History. Vol. 4. p. 204, 244-5, vol 6 p. 109

Notes and References

1. Book: The Gentleman's Magazine . 28 . 305 . 1860 . 2013-03-25.
2. Web site: Watts, George Edward National Historic Person . Designations of National Historic Significance . Parks Canada . 2013-03-25.
3. Book: Marshall, John . Royal Naval Biography; Or, Memoirs of the Services of All the Flag-officers, ... . 277–96 . 1829 . Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green . 2013-03-25.