Bruce Watson (politician)
Dr Bruce Watson | |
|---|---|
| Leader of the Scottish National Party | |
| In office 9 June 1945 – May 1947 | |
| Preceded by | Douglas Young |
| Succeeded by | Robert McIntyre |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 April 1910 Aberdeen, Scotland |
| Died | 16 May 1988 (aged 78) Invergordon County Hospital, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland |
| Political party | Scottish National Party |
| Spouse | Johan Angus (m. 1939-1988) |
| Alma mater | University of Aberdeen |
| Profession | Lecturer, Professor (Chemistry) |
Mearns Bruce Watson (3 April 1910 – 16 May 1988) was a Scottish organic chemist and Scottish National Party politician. He was the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from 1945 to 1947.
Watson was born in Rubislaw, Aberdeen, the son of Mearns Watson snr, a fruit salesman. He studied chemistry at the University of Aberdeen and later taught there from 1935 to 1945 as an assistant lecturer in chemistry, and then as professor of organic chemistry.[1] In 1945 he moved to Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology, where he was Head of Chemistry until he retired in 1975. As an organic chemist, Watson was exempted from military service during World War II and served instead as gas protection officer for the whole of the north of Scotland.
In 1945, the SNP Chairman
In 1946, Watson chaired a large conference in
Based in Aberdeen, Watson remained active in the SNP into the 1960s.[5]
References
- ^ Peter Lynch, SNP: the history of the Scottish National Party, p.4
- ^ Scots Independent. Archived from the originalon 17 February 2012.
- ISBN 0-7486-6113-1
- St. Petersburg Times, 29 May 1946
- Scots Independent, 9 November 2001