(1891– ).

Barrister and art administrator.

Gordon Graham Gibbes Watson was born at Wellington on 21 October 1891 and was educated at Wellington College and Victoria University College, where he graduated M.A., LL.B. He lectured in law for many years and served on the Council of the Wellington District Law Society, holding office as president in 1932. He served also on the Council of the New Zealand Law Society (1936–46) and was a member of its Disciplinary Committee for a long period. After many years in legal practice, during which time he was outstanding as an advocate at the Bar, he directed his interests mainly to art and commerce. From 1938 to 1949 he was president of New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts. In 1938 Watson was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum, being a member of the Committee of Management of the National Art Gallery since 1941 and its chairman since 1944. In 1964 he became first chairman of the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council. In 1955–56 he was a member of the Royal Commission on Monetary and Banking Matters in New Zealand. Because of the wide range of his interests, such as horticulture and welfare, he has given valuable service to many organisations. He is chairman of directors of several companies including British Petroleum Co. of New Zealand, the Wellington Investment, Trustee, and Agency Co. Ltd., and J. J. Niven and Co. Ltd., and he is also on the directorate of many other companies. G. G. Watson was awarded a C.M.G. in 1957.