Background
Watson was born on October 7, 1844, in Garnavillo, Iowa, as the child of James Watson and Emily Adams Franklin Watson.
Watson was born on October 7, 1844, in Garnavillo, Iowa, as the child of James Watson and Emily Adams Franklin Watson.
He was the 12th Chief Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court. The family moved to Oregon Territory in 1853 and settled in Douglas County. In Oregon Edward Watson received an education in the public schools and at Wilbur Academy.
Then, in June 1866, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon.
He then studied law and began practicing in 1868 in Jacksonville, Oregon. While in Southern Oregon Watson served as a county judge for Jackson County from 1872 to 1876.
Next he served as county clerk from 1878 to 1880. Then in 1880 Watson was elected to the Oregon Supreme Court to Paine Page Prim.
His four year term expired in 1884 and he left the court.
During his tenure he served as chief justice from 1882 to 1884. After leaving the bench Edward Watson returned to private practice, but moved to Portland, Oregon. Edward B. Watson died in Portland on February 1, 1915.