James Watt (1736-1819)

Portrait of James Watt (1736-1819) by Carl Frederik von Breda
Born	19 January 1736 Greenock, Renfrewshire,Scotland
Died	25 August 1819 (aged 83)[1] Handsworth, Birmingham,England
Residence	Glasgow then Handsworth,Great Britain
Citizenship	United Kingdom
Nationality	Scottish
Fields	Mechanical engineer
Institutions	University of Glasgow Boulton and Watt
Known for	Improving the steam engine
Influences	Joseph Black Adam Smith

James Watt, FRS, FRSE (/wɒt/; 19 January 1736 – 25 August 1819)[1] was a Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer whose improvements to the Newcomen steam engine were fundamental to the changes brought by the Industrial Revolution in both his native Great Britain and the rest of the world.

While working as an instrument maker at the University of Glasgow, Watt became interested in the technology of steam engines. He realized that contemporary engine designs wasted a great deal of energy by repeatedly cooling and re-heating the cylinder. Watt introduced a design enhancement, the separate condenser, which avoided this waste of energy and radically improved the power, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of steam engines. Eventually he adapted his engine to produce rotary motion, greatly broadening its use beyond pumping water.

Watt attempted to commercialise his invention, but experienced great financial difficulties until he entered a partnership with Matthew Boulton in 1775. The new firm of Boulton and Watt was eventually highly successful and Watt became a wealthy man. In his retirement, Watt continued to develop new inventions though none were as significant as his steam engine work. He died in 1819 at the age of 83. Watt has been described as one of the most influential figures in human history.

He developed the concept of horsepower and the SI unit of power, the watt, was named after him.

Biography

James Watt was born on 19 January 1736 in Greenock, Renfrewshire, a seaport on the Firth of Clyde. His father was a shipwright, ship owner and contractor, and served as the town's chief baillie,[5] while his mother, Agnes Muirhead, came from a distinguished family and was well educated. Both were Presbyterians and strong Covenanters.   Watt's grandfather, Thomas Watt, was a mathematics teacher and baillie to the Baron of Cartsburn.   Despite being raised by religious parents, he later on became a deist.

Watt did not attend school regularly; initially he was mostly schooled at home by his mother but later he attended Greenock Grammar School.   He exhibited great manual dexterity, engineering skills and an aptitude for mathematics, while Latin and Greek failed to interest him.