Misplaced Pages

John Watson (died 1870) was a nineteenth-century African-American politician from Virginia.

Early life

Watson was born a slave in Mecklenburg County, Virginia.

Career

As an adult following the American Civil War, Watson spent the five years of his life as a freedman promoting African-American schools and churches in Mecklenburg.

In 1867, Watson was elected to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1868. A Republican, he was the sole delegate elected from the central Piedmont convention district made up of his home Mecklenburg County.

Following the Convention, Robinson was subsequently elected to the Virginia House of Delegates for the session 1869/70.

Death

John Watson died in 1870 before the end of his term in office. He was succeeded by Ross Hamilton.

References

1. Jackson 1945, p. 43
2. Jackson 1945, p. 43
3. Pulliam 1901, p. 141-142
4. Swem 1918, p. 443
5. Jackson 1945, p. 43

Bibliography

• Jackson, Luther Porter (1945). Negro Office-Holders in Virginia, 1865-1895. Guide Quality Press, Norfolk, Virginia. ISBN 9780598580269.
• Pulliam, David Loyd (1901). The Constitutional Conventions of Virginia from the foundation of the Commonwealth to the present time. John T. West, Richmond. ISBN 978-1-2879-2059-5.
• Swem, Earl Greg (1918). A Register of the General Assembly of Virginia, 1776-1918, and of the Constitutional Conventions. David Bottom, Superintendent of Public Printing. ISBN 978-1-3714-6242-0.

• Republican Party members of the Virginia House of Delegates
• 1870 deaths
• People from Mecklenburg County, Virginia
• African-American state legislators in Virginia
• 19th-century members of the Virginia General Assembly