John S. Watson

Who was John S. Watson?

John S. Watson was an African-American Democratic Party politician who served six terms in the New Jersey General Assembly, where he represented the 15th Legislative District.

Born in Camden, New Jersey, Watson served with the United States Merchant Marine fleet during World War II. In 1970, Watson became the first African-American elected to the Board of Chosen Freeholders in Mercer County, New Jersey. In 1977, he became the President of the Board. For 12 years, Watson was a member of the New Jersey State Assembly, where he served as Chairman of the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

The John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy located at the Rudolph V. Kuser Mansion on the campus of Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, New Jersey is named in his honor.

His daughter Bonnie Watson Coleman now serves in what was once his Assembly seat.