Sir Reginald George Watson CMG was born in June 1862, in Portland Place, Bath. He was the son of General E.D. Watson of Bengal Army. Watson married Sydney Francis Vivien Presgrave. He died in 1926.

Watson received his education at Haileybury College, Hertford, England and was the Straits Settlements Civil Service cadet in 1883, Private Secretary to Sir Cecil Clementi Smith, 1884- 1885; Officer of Land Office, Malacca (1887), British Resident of Perak (1913–1919).