John Watts (Australian politician)

{{Short description|Australian politician}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}

{{Use Australian English|date=August 2021}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|honorific-prefix =

|name = John Watts

|honorific-suffix =

|image = John Watts - Queensland politician.jpg

|caption =

| constituency_AM = Drayton and Toowoomba

| assembly = Queensland Legislative

| term_start = 2 May 1860

| term_end = 26 July 1862

| predecessor = New seat

| successor = William Henry Groom

| office1 = Member of the Queensland Legislative Council

| term_start1 = 8 April 1864

| term_end1 = 31 October 1864

| constituency_AM2 = Western Downs

| assembly2 = Queensland Legislative

|term_start2 = 2 November 1864

|term_end2 = 18 June 1867

|predecessor2 = Thomas Moffatt

|successor2 = Robert Ramsay

| alongside2 = James Taylor

|birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1821|2|27}}

|birth_place = Frampton-on-Severn, Gloucestershire, England

|death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1902|11|18|1821|2|27}}

|death_place = Wimborne, Dorset, England

|restingplace =

|birthname = John Watts

|nationality = English Australian

|party =

|otherparty =

|spouse = Jane Lambie Nelson (m.1854 d.1863), Caroline Sophia (née Cochrane) (m.1868)

| known_for =

| occupation = Farmer

| relations =

| alma_mater =

}}

John Watts (27 February 1821 – 18 November 1902) was a member of both the Queensland Legislative Assembly and the Queensland Legislative Council.{{cite web|title=Former Members|publisher=Parliament of Queensland|year=2015| url=http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/members/former/bio?id=3335747618|access-date= 7 March 2015}} Watts managed the Eton Vale station with Arthur Hodgson and later took it over.{{cite journal |last1=French |first1=Maurice |title=Squatters and Separation: A Synoptic Overview |journal=Queensland History Journal |date=2010 |volume=20 |issue=13 |pages=804–819 |url=https://eprints.usq.edu.au/26248/1/French_QHJ_v20n13_PV.pdf |access-date=19 June 2019}} During his time in Queensland Watts wrote an account of farming and pastoral life, and the difficulties associated with it, as experienced by the early pioneers of South-East Queensland.{{Cite web|date=1901|title=5823 John Watts Typescript 1901|url=http://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/f/fhnkog/slq_alma21148804410002061|access-date=21 May 2021|website=State Library of Queensland OneSearch Catalogue}} He also commissioned an 18-carat gold swag necklace by Danish creator Christian Ludwig Qwist (1818-1877) who arrived in Australia circa 1852. The necklace, a fine example of silversmithing and craftsmanship. Watt's papers and necklace are held by the State Library of Queensland. The necklace is considered a treasure of the John Oxley Library. {{Cite web|date=2021-02-24|title=John Watts Necklace ca. 1866 - 1869: treasure collection of the John Oxley Library {{!}} State Library Of Queensland|url=https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/john-watts-necklace-ca-1866-1869-treasure-collection-john-oxley-library|access-date=2021-05-19|website=www.slq.qld.gov.au|language=en}}