What is James Watson's first name?

James Watson’s first name is James. His full name is James Dewey Watson, the American molecular biologist who co-developed the first widely accepted model of DNA’s double-helix structure.

Watson was born in Chicago in 1928 and showed an early interest in biology and birdwatching. He earned a doctorate at Indiana University before moving to Europe for postdoctoral research. At the University of Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory, he met Francis Crick, beginning the collaboration that made both scientists famous.

Watson and Crick published their DNA model in Nature in April 1953. The model explained how DNA’s paired bases could store and copy genetic information, building on X-ray diffraction evidence and other researchers’ findings. Watson, Crick, and Maurice Wilkins received the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

“Francis” is the common mix-up because it is Crick’s first name. “William” and “John” were not Watson’s first names.