Shame on me, I gave a wrong hint, I'm very sorry about that!!!!! I posted the question off the top of my head and was sure that this gentleman's name was missing in the first chapter of a book Gene recently recommended (not the very latest one). I just came home and checked and it was not HIS name - so the correct HINT #1 is: he IS mentioned in that book (nevertheless I miss some details about that incident although I enjoy reading the book). I'm very sorry, I should have checked this before giving that hint! (And right today my internet connection doesn't work properly.)
Roger, I'm sorry for misleading you, it is not John Watt.