Sir Brook Watson, 1st Baronet (7 February 1735 – 2 October 1807) was an English merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London from 1796 to 1797.

He took a job under Captain John Huston on a schooner that supplied provisions to the British army at Fort Lawrence, Nova Scotia (1750).

Calling him 'a traitor', William Dunlap wrote that Watson "ingratiated himself with many leading Americans, obtained as much information on their designs as he could, and transmitted it to his chosen masters".

Allen wrote that he "was put under the power of an English Merchant from London, whose name was Brook Watson: a man of malicious and cruel disposition, and who was probably excited, in the exercise of his malevolence, by a junto of tories, who sailed with him to England".

Had the monster, who for breakfast ate That luckless limb, his noblest noddle met, The best of workmen, nor the best of wood, Had scarce supply'd him with a head so good.

Today the text beneath the painting reads: This picture representing a remarkable occurrence in the life of Brook Watson was bequeathed to the Royal Hospital of Christ in London by his will.

He was of a very good family in the North of England but having lost both his parents early in life was brought up by an aunt, and before the age of fourteen years manifested a strong predilection for the sea, which led to the misfortune represented in the picture.

In 1759 he was established as a merchant in London and was subsequently called upon to act as Commissary General to the Army in America commanded by Sir Guy Carleton, late Lord Dorchester.

On his return from that service he was elected an Alderman of the City of London and one of its representatives in parliament, and continued Member of the House of Commons till he was appointed to the situation of Commissary General to the Army under His Royal Highness the Duke of York, acting on the continent of Europe.

He died in 1807, an Alderman of the City of London, Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, &c, &c thus shewing that a high sense of integrity and rectitude with a firm reliance on an overruling providence united to activity and exertion are the sources of public and private virtue and the road to honours and respect.

Royal Academician in the year 1778.Watson's will, dated 12 August 1803, stated: "I give and bequeath my Picture painted by Mr. Copley which represents the accident by which I lost my Leg in the Harbour of the Havannah in the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty Nine to the Governors of Christ's Hospital to be delivered to them immediately after the Decease of my Wife Helen Watson or before if she shall think proper so to do hoping the said worthy Governors will receive the same as a testimony of the high estimation in which I hold that most Excellent Charity and that they will allow it to be hung up in the Hall of their Hospital as holding out a most usefull [sic] Lesson to Youth".

Underneath Neptune brandishing his trident, the shield bears Watson's severed right leg, with the Latin motto Scuto Divino ('Under God's Protection') below.