Watson was a native Gaelic-speaker, born in Milntown of New Tarbat (now known as Milton), Easter Ross.

His proposers were Walter Biggar Blaikie, Sir William Leslie Mackenzie, John Horne and Ben Peach.

He remained in this prestigious position until making way for his son James Carmichael Watson in 1935 (but retaining a role in the university until 1938).

He was declared "missing in action" in 1942, when HMS Jaguar was sunk off the coast of Egypt.

The book is based on extensive notes taken by Watson, which are unpublished and held by the University of Edinburgh.