James Watson (printer)
[1] Watson's collection of ancient poetry, the Choice Collection of Comic and Serious Scottish Poems (1706), helped to launch Scotland's eighteenth century Scots Vernacular Revival, influencing Allan Ramsay, Robert Fergusson, Robert Burns and Walter Scott.
Her family was clearly of considerable wealth as records state that her father loaned money to Charles II during his exile to Holland.
Although it is recorded that this debt was never truly repaid it gave leverage to the father in his obtaining of some degree of monopoly to printing in Scotland (despite existing patents being in place in favour of Andrew Anderson).
His most noted publication of non-political alignment is probably The Hind and the Panther, John Dryden’s major poem, printed at Holyrood Palace in 1687.
His most noted print directly related to the royal self-projection was Prognostications by King James II (VII of Scotland).
He appears to have largely filled his father's shoes following his death in 1687 but disappears from records, probably going to Holland to train further and gather more sophisticated presses and modern typefaces.
Watson had inherited two printworks on the Royal Mile whom his father had lent large sums to Dutch men which had not been repaid.
Watson pleaded that his actions were caused by his "numerous family" and "poor circumstances" which had forced him to print for financial reward.
On 20 June a crowd surrounded the Lord Advocates house and forced him to write a warrant for the men's release, which he did.
Four men broke into the Tolbooth and forced (using a dagger or bayonet) the guards to release Watson and Paterson (plus other prisoners on minor charges).
The much-irritated judge found them guilty on the charge of seditious literature and sentenced each to banishment from the city (for a radius of ten miles) for a period of one year and a day.
[8] In 1704 Watson is recorded as meeting with Evander MacIver and George Ker, both papermakers, regarding general improvements to production quality.
His growing success led him to open a bookshop (independent of his printworks) next to the Red Lion Tavern on the Royal Mile near St Giles Cathedral.
In 1711 his business acquired a new legitimacy, being granted a Royal Patent by Queen Anne allowing him to publish major controlled items such as Bibles.
