James Watson (printer)

James Watson (c.1664- 1722) was a Scottish printer and bookseller of note and founder of several Scottish newspapers, coming from a long line of printers. Unafraid of controversy in his printing he was in court multiple times and imprisoned at least once.

Sir Walter Scott discusses Watson’s collection of ancient poetry, the Choice Collection of Comic and Serious Scottish Poems, in Popular Poetry (part of Poetical Works).Robert Burns was also heavily influenced by Watson’s collection of old poems, both in content and presentation.

Watson’s History of Printing (1713) is also seen as a milestone in printing history.

James’ father, also James Watson was a merchant turned printer in Aberdeen. He had met and married his Dutch wife whilst on a trade visit to Holland. Her family was clearly of considerable wealth as records state that her father loaned money to Charles II during his exile to Holland. Although it is recorded that this debt was never truly repaid it gave leverage to the father in his obtaining of some degree of monopoly to printing in Scotland (despite existing patents being in place in favour of Andrew Anderson). However, on the King’s reinstatement this allowed a mutual benefit in permitting the King to have a pro-Catholic printer at his disposal, and Watson was installed at Holyrood Palace to print from there (probably also having accommodation on site for his whole family). James was given a 40-year monopoly on royal printing in 1671 (but did not live to its conclusion).

James (senior) is often referred to as Papish Watson or The Popish Printer. His most noted publication of non-political alignment is probably The Hind and the Panther, John Dryden’s major poem, printed at Holyrood Palace in 1687. His most noted print directly related to the royal self-projection was Prognostications by King James II (VII of Scotland).

He had an impressive salary of £1001 per year (paid direct by the king) and died in 1687.

He was born in Aberdeen around 1664 and educated at Aberdeen High School and Aberdeen University.

He moved with his family to Edinburgh in 1685. He appears to have largely filled his father’s shoes following his death in 1687 but disappears from records, probably going to Holland to train further and gather more sophisticated presses and modern typefaces. Curiously, the Edinburgh Privy Council had issued an edict in 1687 preventing printers printing without a license (for each specific work), but specifically exempted James Watson from this requirement. This may have been a dictat imposed upon the Council by the monarch, given Watson’s connections.

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Wikipedia