[1] In 1945 he moved to Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology, where he was Head of Chemistry until he retired in 1975.
As an organic chemist, Watson was exempted from military service during World War II and served instead as gas protection officer for the whole of the north of Scotland.
[2] In 1946, Watson chaired a large conference in Perth which demanded self-government for Scotland.
[4] In 1947, he stood down from the Chairmanship of the SNP in order that he could be succeeded by Robert McIntyre, a former Member of Parliament and the best-known figure in the party.
[2] Based in Aberdeen, Watson remained active in the SNP into the 1960s.