Background
Biography: Captain Charles A. Watts, 1867-1957, was born in Nova Scotia, Canada. He first went to sea in 1883 and earned his
American Master's papers in 1888 before he reached the age of 21. He married and had children. His wife and children accompanied
him on his voyages. His first assignment as Captain was aboard the PATRICIAN in 1889. During his career, he served as captain
on the following vessels: L.F. MUNSON (built 1871; brig), GREAT ADMIRAL (built 1871; ship, 3m), PACTOLUS (built 1891; bark,
3m), C.D. BRYANT (bark), BRITISH YEOMAN, W.F. BABCOCK (built 1882; ship, 3m), GENERAL HUBBARD, CADARETTA (built 1918; freighter)
, WABAN (freighter), WEST HARTLAND, WEST NOSSKA, REPUBLIC, BERT E. HANEY (built 1901; steam schooner) and MARY DOLLAR. Watts
also served as captain of the BALCLUTHA (built 1886; ship, 3m) on her return voyage to San Francisco in the mid-1950s after
the San Francisco Maritime Museum purchased her to become a museum ship. The San Francisco Maritime Museum is a predecessor
organization to the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park who currently owns the BALCLUTHA. Captain Watts died in
1957 at the age of 90.