200 years in the making

As the firm celebrates reaching this unique milestone, we consider our accomplishments since 1811 and the key ingredients to our evolution.

Watson Burton's origins date back to the Victorian era, where the firm was founded and established in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1811.

Under the management of Joseph and Robert Spence Watson, the 1800s saw the firm begin to work with some great innovators, most notably, advising Joseph Swan on the patent protection of the carbon filament light bulb. Swan, whose patent led to the creation of products which have changed home and business life throughout the world, was the inventor of the electric light bulb, patenting his a year before Thomas Edison. Shortly after that Swan's Gateshead home became the first in the world to have working light bulbs installed.

Robert Spence Watson, who was the firm's most distinguished character in its history, began practising law in partnership with his father Joseph Watson, trading as J and RS Watson in 1860.

Continue reading the special excerpt from our 200th anniversary edition of Briefly Legal exploring the details of our heritage from its origins in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1811.