Janet Watson, 1 September 1923 - 29 March 1985

Abstract

Janet Vida Watson was born on 1 September 1923, one of two sisters and the daughter of Professor D.M.S. Watson. Her father had succeeded to the chair of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy at University College two years earlier. He had, at that time, already established himself as an international authority on vertebrate palaeontology. A career which was to be recognized in many ways including election to the Royal Society in 1922, the presentation of the Lyell Medal from the Geological Society in 1935 and the Wollaston Medal in 1965; sharing the latter awards ceremony with his daughter. Professor Watson stated that his great aim had been the discovery of the evolutionary courses followed by the vertebrates, and it is interesting to note that it was the same step from careful observation to the elucidation of history which intrigued and stimulated his daughter. The family lived in South Hampstead and Janet attended the local high school. Subsequently she went to Reading University where she took a General Science degree in 1943. Colleagues at that time recall Janet as a very clever student rather than being particularly hard working; she was a relatively quiet person with a few close friends. She had a keen interest in the arts, making, for example, regular trips to Sadler’s Wells ballet. At Reading Janet studied under Professor H.L. Hawkins a notable invertebrate palaeontologist and an influential teacher. Carrying with her a strong recommendation from Hawkins Janet went to Imperial College where she graduated with a first class honours in Geology in 1947. At this stage given her strong background in palaeontology it is probable Janet was considering a research career in the subject. However, at that time, H.H. Read was building a research team following the end of the war. Impressed by Janet’s performance in her honour’s exams - Read reportedly said she should have been given 120% to do justice to her relative performance - Read persuaded Janet to join him, the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship.