WATSON, William Robinson, politician, born in South Kingston, Rhode Island, 14 December, 1799; died in Providence, Rhode Island, 29 August, 1864. He was graduated at Brown in 1823, studied law in Providence, and was admitted to the bar, but engaged little in the practice of his profession, devoting his life chiefly to politics. From 1827 till 1833, and again in 1835, he was clerk of the court of common pleas for the county of Providence. In 1841-'5, and 1849-'54. he was collector of the port of Providence. In 1854 he was chosen secretary of state of Rhode Island, but he lost his election the following year, when the Native American party carried the state. In 1856 he was appointed by the general assembly state auditor, serving until Nay, 1863. He frequently edited political journals, and wrote for the press, vindicating and explaining the doctrines of the Whig party with great vigor. The most elaborate of his writings was a series of papers that was first published in 1844 in the Providence "Journal," under the signature of "Hamilton," and which were afterward printed in pamphlet-form.--His son, William Henry, physician, born in Providence, Rhode Island, 8 November, 1829, was graduated at Brown in 1852, studied medicine in Providence, and, after receiving his degree in 1854, settled in Utica. New York He also received the honorary degree of M. D. from the University of the state of New York in 1878. He travelled extensively in Europe to study the various systems of medical education, and on his return delivered an address at the 23d convocation of the University of the state of New York on 9 July, 1885, in which he insisted that it is the prerogative of the state to determine the educational qualifications of physicians, and that there must be an entire separation of the teaching from the licensing interests. This address received the unanimous approval of the convocation, and widely attracted public attention. He was examiner in diagnosis and pathology in the State board of medical examination from 1872 till 1881, United States examining pension surgeon from 1875 till 1881, surgeon-general of New York state from 1880 till 1883, and since 1882 has been regent of the University of the state of New York. Dr. Watson has been active in establishing homoeopathic societies and institutions, was a founder of the Homoeopathic medical society of Oneida county, New York, and was its president in 1860-'1, and in 1868 became president of the Homoeopathic medical society of New York state. He was a founder of the New York state homoeopathic asylum for the insane at Middletown, and was a trustee in 1873-'6. He was appointed a commissioner of the state reservation at Niagara in 1888. In addition to addresses, he is the author of several monographs trod papers, including "The Past and Present Position of Homoeopathy and the Duties of its Practitioners" (1861) ; " Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis" (1863); "Nosological Classification of Disease," with Dr. Horace M. Paine (1863); "The Medical Profession, its Duties and Responsibilities, and the Relation of the Homoeopathic to its Allopathic Branch" (1869); " No Sectarian Tests for Office, and No Sectarian Monopoly of National Institutions" (1871) ; "The Homoeopathic School" (1872) : and "The Advanced Medical Act" (1872).