He was a member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council from 1882 until his death in 1905 and was Mayor of Hobart in 1890 and from 1894 to 1896.
[6][7] Fisher died on 3 April 1882, and Watchorn won the resulting May 1882 by-election comfortably.
[8] He was re-elected numerous times and served in the Legislative Council until his death in 1905.
[1] He died in office in March 1905 and was buried at Cornelian Bay Cemetery.
[9] Watchorn married Dorcas Anne Blakey (née Collins) on 15 August 1854.