John Watson Gordon

Captain Watson was himself a skilful draughtsman, and his brother George Watson, afterwards president of the Royal Scottish Academy, was a highly respected portrait painter, second only to Sir Henry Raeburn, who was a friend of the family.

[1] One of the earliest of his famous sitters was Sir Walter Scott, who sat for a first portrait in 1820.

A good example of his last style, showing pearly flesh-painting freely handled, yet highly finished, is his head of Sir John Shaw-Lefevre.

Gordon was one of the earlier members of the Royal Scottish Academy, and was elected its president in 1850;[3] he was at the same time appointed limner for Scotland to the queen, and received the honour of knighthood.

[1] He is buried in the eastern extension of Canongate Kirkyard on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.