John Kippen Watson

He is associated with major improvements to Edinburgh's gas lighting including the iconic lamp standard found throughout the New Town.

He was born on 26 August 1818 in Edinburgh the son of John Watson and his wife Elizabeth Kippen.

[1] On the death of his father (around 1840) he took on his roles of running the Edinburgh Gas Lighting Company In the 1860s he introduced a new style of gas lamp, specific to Edinburgh, and associated with iconic areas such as Charlotte Square.

In 1866 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh his proposer being William Swan.

He is buried in the grave of George Watson RSA (who appears to have been his uncle) at St Cuthberts Churchyard at the west end of Princes Street.

One of Watson's gas lamps on Melville Street Edinburgh (converted to electric use)
14 Blackford Road, Edinburgh
The grave of John Kippen Watson, St Cuthberts Churchyard, Edinburgh