| Intro | U.S. Representative from Virginia |
| Was |
Politician Lawyer Judge |
| From | United States of America |
| Type |
Law Politics |
| Gender | male |
| Birth | 25 November 1867, Nottoway County, Virginia, U.S.A. |
| Death |
24 December 1919, Washington, D.C., District of Columbia, U.S.A. (aged 52 years) |
| Politics | Democratic Party |
Walter Allen Watson (November 25, 1867 – December 24, 1919) was a U.S. Representative from Virginia.
Biography
Born in Nottoway County, Virginia, Watson attended “old field” school, and graduated from Hampden-Sydney College, Virginia, in 1887. He studied law at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville in 1888 and 1889. He was admitted to the bar in 1893 and commenced practice in Nottoway and adjoining counties in Virginia. He served as a member of the Senate of Virginia from 1891 to 1895 and acted as Commonwealth’s Attorney from 1895 to 1904. He served as member of the Democratic state committee in 1901 and 1902. From 1904 to 1912, he served as Circuit judge of the fourth judicial circuit of Virginia.
Watson was elected as a Democrat to the 63rd Congress and to the three succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1913, until his death in Washington, D.C., December 24, 1919. He served as chairman of the Committee on Elections No. 3 (65th Congress). He was interred in the family cemetery on his estate, “Woodland,” in Nottoway County, Virginia.
Electoral history
- 1912; Watson was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 96.41% of the vote, defeating Socialist Fred Herzig and Independent Robert Turnbull.
- 1914; Watson was re-elected with 96.17% of the vote, defeating Socialist Herzig.
- 1916; Watson was re-elected unopposed.
- 1918; Watson was re-elected unopposed.