Lewis Watson, 1st Baron Rockingham

Lewis Watson, 1st Baron Rockingham (before 14 July 1584 – 5 January 1653), was an English landowner and politician. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons from 1621 to 1624 and was known as Sir Lewis Watson, 1st Baronet, from 1621 until 1645. In 1645, he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Rockingham for his support of the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.

Biographical details indicate that Watson was born before 14 July 1584, the date of his baptism at Rockingham. His father was Sir Edward Watson (circa 1549–1617), of Rockingham Castle, and his mother was Anne Digby, daughter of Kenelm Digby of Stoke Dry, Rutland. Watson attended Magdalen College, Oxford, matriculating on 24 May 1599, but did not complete a degree. He was admitted to the Middle Temple in 1601 as a student.

On 19 August 1608, Watson was knighted at Grafton. Upon the death of his father on 1 March 1617, he inherited Rockingham Castle, which was leased from the crown; he later purchased the fee of the castle and its lands directly from the crown. Watson was elected MP for Lincoln in 1621 and was created a baronet on 23 June 1621. He was re-elected as MP for Lincoln in 1624 and served as Sheriff of Northamptonshire from 1632 to 1633.

In 1633, Watson acquired the hereditary title of Master of the Buckhounds from the Brocas family, a title associated with the Manor of Little Weldon. He also served as verderer of Rockingham and Brigstock, positions he held in 1638. During the English Civil War, he supported the Royalist side and was rewarded with a peerage as Baron Rockingham on 29 January 1645.

Watson married twice. His first marriage was in 1609 to Catherine Bertie, daughter of Peregrine Bertie, Baron Willoughby de Eresby. She died in childbirth on 15 February 1610 and was buried at Spilsby, Lincolnshire. His second marriage was on 3 October 1620 to Eleanor Manners, daughter of Sir George Manners of Haddon Hall, Derbyshire, and Grace Pierrepont. They had six children: a son, Edward Watson, 2nd Baron Rockingham, born 30 June 1630, and five daughters—Grace, Anne, Frances, Elizabeth, and Eleanor.

His daughter Grace Watson married Sir Edward Barkham of West Acre, Norfolk; Elizabeth married Sir Charles Dymock of Scrivelsby, Lincolnshire; and Frances married Edward Dingley of Worcestershire. Elizabeth died in 1658, and Eleanor married Sir Charles Dymock.

Lewis Watson died on 5 January 1653 and was buried at Rockingham church a week later. His widow Eleanor died in London on 23 October 1679 and was buried with her husband at Rockingham on 8 November 1679. He was succeeded in his titles by his son, Edward Watson.