John Watson (died 1870) was a nineteenth-century African-American politician from Virginia.

Early life

Watson was born a slave in Mecklenburg County, Virginia.^[1]

Career

The Virginia Capitol at Richmond, Virginia, where 19th century Conventions met

As an adult following the American Civil War, Watson spent the five years of his life as a freedman promoting African-American schools and churches in Mecklenburg.^[2]

In 1867, Watson was elected to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1868. A Republican, he was the sole delegate elected from the central Piedmont convention district made up of his home Mecklenburg County.^[3]

Following the Convention, Robinson was subsequently elected to the Virginia House of Delegates for the session 1869/70.^[4]

Death

John Watson died in 1870 before the end of his term in office. He was succeeded by Ross Hamilton.^[5]

References

Bibliography

• Jackson, Luther Porter (1945). Negro Office-Holders in Virginia, 1865-1895. Guide Quality Press, Norfolk, Virginia. ISBN 9780598580269.
• Pulliam, David Loyd (1901). The Constitutional Conventions of Virginia from the foundation of the Commonwealth to the present time. John T. West, Richmond. ISBN 978-1-2879-2059-5.
• Swem, Earl Greg (1918). A Register of the General Assembly of Virginia, 1776-1918, and of the Constitutional Conventions. David Bottom, Superintendent of Public Printing. ISBN 978-1-3714-6242-0.