Professor Emeritus Andrew Murray Watson died on April 4, 2024. He was 93. A professor of Economic History, Watson was affiliated with the Department of Economics and Trinity College, where he was Emeritus Fellow, throughout his career with the University of Toronto.

While Watson retired in 1995, he taught until at least 2005 and completed his last academic assignment, a chapter for The New Cambridge History of Islam titled “Rural life and economy until 1800” at the age of 80.

After that, “he decided it was time to say goodbye to academia and joyously devote himself solely to travel, adventure, and the enjoyment of the good company of his friends spread round the world. Which he did and did well,” his family said in his obituary. “Amongst his many adventures in his 80s, he explored ancient grave sites in the Gobi Desert, and acted as guide for tours along the Silk Road. For over thirty years he spent the better part of his winters at an old palace in Bali where the staff treated him as an honoured uncle.” [Read more…]