Thomas Watters

Thomas Watters (9 February 1840 – 10 January 1901) was an Oriental scholar.

Life

Thomas Watters was born on 9 February 1840 in Newtownards, in County Down, Ireland. He was home schooled by his father, the Rev. Thomas Watters, the Presbyterian Minister in Newtownards. He entered Queen's College, Belfast in 1857 and graduated with a B.A. from Queen's University in 1861 and an M.A. in 1861.

He was appointed to a post in the Consular Service of China in 1863 going first to Beijing. He was then posted in 1887-1888 as Acting Consul General in Korea, in Guangzhou 1891-1893 and then until April, 1895, Consul in Fuzhou, when failing health forced him to retire after 32 years' service in the Far East.

Partial list of works

A Guide to the Tablets in a Temple of Confucius, by T. Watters, H. M.'s Consul for Wuhu. Shanghai, China: - Printed at the American Presbyterian Mission Press, 1879, in-8, pp. xx-259.

Lao-Tzû 老子. A Study in Chinese Philosophy, by T. Watters, M. A.. Hong Kong: Printed at the "China Mail" Office, 1870, in-8, pp. 114 without the preface. A Large part of this work appeared previously in The Chinese Recorder and Missionary Journal, Vol. I, pp. 31, 57, 82, 106, 128, 164, 209. In his brochure, M. Watters has added two chapters (VIII, Lao Tzû, and Confucius; IX, Conclusion).

"Buddhism in China." By T. Watters. (Chinese Recorder, II, pp. 16, 38-43, 64-8, 81-8, 117, 145-150.)

"Notes on the "Miao-fa-lien-hua-ching, a Buddhist Sutra in Chinese", by T. Watters. (Journal North-China Br. B. As. Soc., N. S., No. IX, 1874, Art. IV, p. 89.)