Watson was born December 1, 1826 in East Windsor Hill, Connecticut. Graduating from Yale in 1847 in Biology, he drifted through various occupations until, in California, he joined the Clarence King Expedition and eventually became its expedition botanist.
A prominent figure, Watson was born on December 1, 1826, in East Windsor Hill, Connecticut. He earned his degree from Yale in 1847 in the field of Biology and later explored different professions before participating in the Clarence King Expedition in California, where he took on a key role as its botanical specialist.