William Watkins (of London)
William Watkins, ship owner, was brother of John Watkins, also a shipowner; their father was John Rodger Watkins, Shipowner (died 1870)[1]
1865 The London Steam Towing Co was incorporated to carry on an existing business; the directors had made provisional arrangements with Mr William Watkins, steam tug owner of London, to acquire his fleet of 16 tugs and the goodwill of the business; Mr Watkins would then join the board of the new company[2]
1922 William Watkins Ltd took legal action against James W. Cook and Co Ltd concerning a collision between their lighter and the Liberia, a tug belonging to Watkins[3]
1927 - April. Cochrane and Sons launched their thousandth vessel in the first week of April and followed it immediately with another. The two new craft were steel screw tugs, the Kenia and the Gondia, for William Watkins Ltd., London. It was pointed our that the first vessels built at Selby by the new owners of Cochranes were also for Messrs Watkins. [4]
1942 J. R. Watkins, Chairman of William Watkins Ltd, steam tug owners, was awarded the OBE[5]