James’ father provided him with a workroom of his own on the top storey of the house. Tools were now easily accessible. He used to frequently watch men at work and his curiosity, interest and initiative soon led him to imitate models, to scrutinize the instruments and how they worked, watching them when stripped to separate their component parts and subsequently reassemble them after repair.
It may be quite possible that James’ parents had something in mind for him which was related to his father’s job. After leaving school, James always stayed home to work with his father. His parents hoped to send him to Glasgow University for an appropriate professional career.
A Difficult Period
As time passed, the decline in his father’s fortune forced James to make his own career largely on a self-supporting basis. His mother’s illness forced James to stay at home. Working with his father, he also pursued his studies, though not in an organized manner but rather as the whim of the moment caught him. But he never neglected his own attic workshop. Long after James had left home, an apprentice found a number of models, which James had made earlier, including a miniature crane, a barrel organ, model pumps, pulleys and capstans, giving significant proof of his early interest and ingenuity.
All through this time, James continued to suffer from frequent headaches. James was quit a versatile reader and was very temperamental. He would often go for long walks alternatively between periods of silence, finding an outlet for his ideas and impressions by having energetic and conversations with his friends.
When James turned 18, his mother died and the pleasant atmosphere of the Watt family came to an abrupt end. James decided to pursue a career as a manufacturer of scientific instruments. It was a wise decision for a person who had inherited a taste for mathematics and science. His natural ability for delicate handicraft and his knowledge of tools were added advantages, however, he never knew what destiny had planned for him.
James WSatt was a Scotsman born on January 19, 1736, in Greenock in Renfrewshire, a small seaport on the Clyde Estuary.
Background
Watt's grandfather, Thomas Watt, who died at the age of 92 some eighteen months before James was born, was a native of Aberdeen where he was probably educated at the Marischal College. Following the sack of Aberdeen by the Royalists under the Marquis of Montrose in 1644, Thomas Watt movd south to the small port of Cartsdyke on the Clyde where he became a teacher of mathematics and navigation and was eventually appointed baillie of the barony. Cartsdyke was later to be absorbed by the growth of the neighbouing port of Greenock.
John, the elder of Thomas Watt's two surviving sons, was trained by his father and eventually set himself up as a surveyor in Glasgow where he was responsible for making the first survey of the river Clyde. James, the younger son, was bound apprentice to a carpenter and shipwright in Cartsdyke and then set himself up in business on his own account in Greenock about the year 1730. Greenock was then too small a place to support a specialist tradesman and James Watt senior had to be prepared to turn his hand to anything. He was builder and contractor, shipwright and undertaker, carpenter and cabinet maker, and later on became a general merchant and part owner of several small ships. He married Agnes Muirhead and with his share of the money he inherited from his father he bought a house on what was called the Mid Quay Head at the lower end of William Street. The property included a plot of ground which extended to the Clyd shore and upon this James Watt, Sr., built his workshop. The house was pulled down subsequently, but the James Watt Tavern which was built on the site commemorated the birthplace of the great engineer.
James Watt, Sr., and Agnes had five children. The eldest three died in infancy while the youngest drowned on a voyage to America at the age of 24. James, the fourth son, was a sickly boy, showing signs of chronic ill health, which tormented him through the greater part of his life. Agnes, James' mother, was a wise lady; she was the one who tutored James in his first lessons. She gave special attention and care to her sickly and delicate child.
A Serious-minded Child
James seemed to be a bit serious minded and studious from the very beginning. Once a visitor saw young Watt playing and scribbling figures in chalk on the hearth. The visitor thought that the boy was just trifling away his time and he suggested that the father send the boy to school. But James Sr., insisted that the visitor have a closer look at James’ work. To the visitor’s surprise the six-year-old boy was drawing geometrical figures as part of an exercise in elementary mathematics. The visitor was further amazed by the intelligent answers he received to his questions. Thus his ability and liking for mathematics was evident at a very early age, not a surprising fact, as both his uncle and grandfather were professional mathematicians.
Eventually, James went to school, but did not particularly distinguish himself there. He had missed the rough-and-tumble of early mixing with boys of his own age and felt very much out of place. He was regarded as fair game for the bullies and had a very tough time before he eventually settled down to school life.
Nevertheless, when he passed the grammar school at the age of 12 , his innate abilities began to assert themselves.
The Steaming Kettle
It was during this period that the famous happening of the steaming kettle took place. The steaming kettle was an extreme source of interest for young James, so much so, that on one occasion his aunt Muirhead started to reprimand him for his idleness. She said, "For the last hour you have not spoken one word but taken the lid off that kettle and put it on again, holding now a cup and now a silver spoon over the steam, watching how it rises from the spout, and catching and connecting the drops it falls into. Are you not ashamed of spending your time in this way?"
Imagining young James’ playing with a spoon or a cup seems quite natural and plausible given every child's innate fascination and early curiosity as he discovers the little wonders of nature. But to link the episode of the steaming kettle with his subsequent invention many years later seems unnatural and unconvincing. However, one thing that seems more probable is that the home environment of young James helped him to develop in him a strong mechanical trait. His father’s carpentry shop, the tools and the repair of the navigation instruments helped to encourage James.
An Acute Observer
James’ father provided him with a workroom of his own on the top storey of the house. Tools were now easily accessible. He used to frequently watch men at work and his curiosity, interest and initiative soon led him to imitate models, to scrutinize the instruments and how they worked, watching them when stripped to separate their component parts and subsequently reassemble them after repair.
It may be quite possible that James’ parents had something in mind for him which was related to his father’s job. After leaving school, James always stayed home to work with his father. His parents hoped to send him to Glasgow University for an appropriate professional career.
A Difficult Period
As time passed, the decline in his father’s fortune forced James to make his own career largely on a self-supporting basis. His mother’s illness forced James to stay at home. Working with his father, he also pursued his studies, though not in an organized manner but rather as the whim of the moment caught him. But he never neglected his own attic workshop. Long after James had left home, an apprentice found a number of models, which James had made earlier, including a miniature crane, a barrel organ, model pumps, pulleys and capstans, giving significant proof of his early interest and ingenuity.
All through this time, James continued to suffer from frequent headaches. James was quit a versatile reader and was very temperamental. He would often go for long walks alternatively between periods of silence, finding an outlet for his ideas and impressions by having energetic and conversations with his friends.
When James turned 18, his mother died and the pleasant atmosphere of the Watt family came to an abrupt end. James decided to pursue a career as a manufacturer of scientific instruments. It was a wise decision for a person who had inherited a taste for mathematics and science. His natural ability for delicate handicraft and his knowledge of tools were added advantages, however, he never knew what destiny had planned for him.
Out On His Own
He left Greenock for Glasgow in June 1754 to realize his plans and ambitions. He was not able to find a single manufacturer of mathematical instruments where he could attach himself as apprentice. Fortunately, James became acquainted with Professor Robert Dick, who held the Chair of Natural Philosophy in the University. Dr. Dick found James interesting and thought if trained properly, the University could avail of services of James’ for the care and maintenance of its scientific instruments, but that training was only possible in London.
London was the center for manufacturers of scientific instruments of all kinds, and the famous craftsmen Rowley, Dolland, and Ross were at work there. Romsden’s reputation and skill as surveying instrument manufacturer was unrivaled. Dr. Dick gave James a letter of introduction to his friend James Short and advised James to set out for his future journey. James first hastened home to Greenock to consult his father and then with his permission and blessings proceeded to London.
London
Watt started his difficult journey on horseback, which took 12 days. Things were not easy in London. The city was still under the control of city guilds and companies, because of its ancient customs and privileges giving full rights of trades to native-born townsmen. Only the successful serving of seven years apprenticeship under a guildsman admitted one as a master of the guild or company, who in turn determined the conditions and regulations governing each particular trade. This stopped the intrusion of quacks and untrained labor, ensuring masters and guildsmen protection. In this condition he was forced to write to his father "I have not yet got a Master, they all make some objection or other." However, with the help of Mr. James Short, he found John Morgan, a master who agreed to let James work with him for one year. It was decided that James would work without wages and would also agree to the fee of twenty guineas that he would have to pay John Morgan.
James faced a difficult time throughout the year. He badly needed the help of his father, both for the twenty guineas as well as his sustenance. Though James limited his expenses for boarding and lodging, he hardly got enough to eat. However, he was able to complete seven years’ work, in a year, putting 10 hours a day. He even surpassed a fellow apprentice who had been in the shop for two years, in the matter of less than six weeks. He would become so engrossed in his work that he would not even think of amusement and would go out on rare occasions.
Endurance Against Adversity
Another major reason of his not going out was the Seven Years’ War with France. James being a stranger had no rights in the city to claim the protection of the civil authorities. He wrote to his father : "They now press anyone they can get, landsmen as well as seamen, except it be in the liberties of the city, where they are obliged to carry them before my Lord Mayor first, and unless one be either apprentice or a creditable tradesman, there is scarce getting off again. And if I was carried before my Lord Mayor I durst not avow I wrought in the city, it being against their laws for an unfreeman to work, even as journeyman within the Liberties."
Hectic work schedule, scanty food, poor health and confinement indoors overstretched young James who was now feeling homesick. Nevertheless, he was approaching his goal.
A Good Master
James was fortunate to have a good master. He wrote, "If it had not been for Mr. Short, I could not have got a man in London that would have undertaken to teach me, as I now find there are not above five or six that could have taught me all that I wanted…though he works chiefly in the brass way, yet he can teach me most branches of the business, such as rules, scales, quadrants, etc."
Now he had a deep sense of satisfaction "I think I shall be able to get my bread anywhere, as I am now able to work as well as most journeymen, though I am not so quick as many," he wrote.
After his apprenticeship James returned home. He was 21, a fully trained and competent manufacturer of mathematical instruments. He set out to settle in Glasgow in October, envisaging a bright future.
Lady Luck Smiles
James’ intention in Glasgow was to set up a business for himself. Again he faced the same difficulty of being a foreigner. But this time, Lady Luck favored Watt and with his arrival in Glasgow, the University received a case of astronomical instruments from a rich merchant of Jamaica, as a present. But during shipping, the instruments were damaged and the services of an expert were required for overhauling. The first name that came to Dr. Dick's mind was that of James Watt. This was Watt’s opportunity to prove his skill. He restored the instrument to perfect order and got a sum of five pounds from the university. The university also provided him a room within the college for his future services.
The university incident was like a boon to Watt and here came a turning point in his life. He was now among his equals and superiors for the first time. In the summer of 1757, he was hired as ‘Mathematical Instrument Maker to the University.’ The School of Science attracted many lecturers among which was the distinguished Joseph Black who later on played an inspiring part in Watt’s life.
A Friend Of The College
Life now was looking up for Watt. He was enjoying his work in the University. He wrote to his father, "Unless it be the Hadleys instruments, there is little to be got by it, as at most jobs I am obliged to do the most of them myself and as it is impossible for one person to be expert at everything, they often cost me more than they should do."
If not wealth, James was certainly acquiring something precious – scientific wisdom. He had exceptional opportunities not only to master the theory of the working of his instruments, but also to develop a sound and instructive background of formal science, to a degree, perhaps, denied even to many of the students of the college itself. James’ intellect was a natural gift. When students and staff dropped in at the workroom for a chat, no doubt the subject would be directly related to the work in hand, but soon James’ innate qualities, his quick brain and skillful hands were recognized for their high intrinsic worth and he came to be regarded not as an employee but as a friend of the college.
Firm And Affectionate Friendships
After the death of Professor Dick, John Anderson succeeded the Chair of Natural Philosophy and through him Watt came within the influence of Joseph Black. Black was a pioneer in the history of Aeronautics. Black once wrote "I found him to be a young man possessing most uncommon talents for mechanical knowledge and practice, with an originality, readiness and copiousness of invention which often surprised and delighted me in our frequent conversations together." The friendship of Black and Watt remained firm and affectionate for the whole of their lives. Watt once wrote in a tribute to Black "To him, I owe in great measure my being what I am; he taught me to reason and experiment in natural philosophy, and was always a true friend and adviser."
The other friend of Watt at Glasgow was another great scientist Dr. John Robinson. If not initiated, he certainly aided great advances in science. Robinson once remembered about Watt in such words : "I saw a workman and expected no more; but was surprised to find a philosopher, as young as myself, and always ready to instruct me. I had the vanity to think myself a pretty good proficient in my favorite study, and was rather mortified at finding Mr. Watt so much my superior."
The Venture
As time passed Watt’s business, particularly sales and service of instruments to the public outside the college, grew rapidly. The need for capital in the business forced Watt to enter into a partnership with John Craig, who was an architect. Craig also agreed to attend to the business work relieving Watt considerably.
The business venture was an ultimate success. Gross sales had gone up considerably. Watt had so far earned a wonderful reputation as a mechanical expert who could even repair an instrument which he had never seen before. Once to repair a musical instrument he started studying the theory of music. Soon he was repairing and then making guitars, violins, flutes and even organs. The wind organ made by Watt for St. Andrews Church can still be seen. Now his activities and interest began to grow. It not only included pottery works but also experiments on steam and the steam engine, which later on transformed his life.
Marriage
James Watt was married in the summer of 1764. Very little is known of this beyond the fact that he was engaged to his cousin, Margaret Miller, in 1763 and that their wedding took place the following year. His happy and successful married life began at a house owned by him in Delftfield Lane. His happy marriage came to an end when his wife whom he had described as "the comfort of my life, a dear friend and a faithful wife," was seized with a serious illness which, quickly proved fatal. It was a sad juncture of his life when his wife died, leaving him with two young children, the older not more than six years of age.
But before the death of his loving wife, there were moments to cherish for Watt. The invention of the first steam engine was ultimately accomplished by his efforts and insight, and in 1769, and he was given the patent for his great invention which was in itself a giant leap in the realm of scientific inventions.
Another major reason of his not going out was the seven years’ war with France. James being a stranger had no rights in the city to claim the protection of the civil authorities. He wrote to his father : "They now press anyone they can get, landsmen as well as seamen, except it be in the liberties of the city, where they are obliged to carry them before my Lord Mayor first, and unless one be either apprentice or a creditable tradesman, there is scarce getting off again. And if I was carried before my Lord Mayor I durst not avow I wrought in the city, it being against their laws for an unfreeman to work, even as journeyman within the Liberties."
Hectic work schedule, scanty food, poor health and confinement indoors overstretched young James who was now feeling home sick. However, he was approaching his goal.
James was fortunate to have a good master. He wrote, "If it had not been for Mr. Short, I could not have got a man in London that would have undertaken to teach me, as I now find there are not above five or six that could have taught me all that I wanted…though he works chiefly in the brass way, yet he can teach me most branches of the business, such as rules, scales, quadrants, etc." But now he had a deep sense of satisfaction "I think I shall be able to get my bread anywhere, as I am now able to work as well as most journeymen, though I am not so quick as many."
After his apprenticeship James returned home. He was now 21, a fully trained and competent manufacturer of mathematical instruments. He set out to settle in Glasgow in October, envisaging a bright future.
James’ intention in Glasgow was to set up a business for himself. But again he faced the same difficulty of being a foreigner. However luck favored Watt and with his arrival in Glasgow, the University received a case of astronomical instruments from a rich merchant of Jamaica, as a present. But during sea transportation the instrument was damaged and an expert was required for overhauling. Dr. Dick remembered Watt. This was Watt’s opportunity to prove his skill. He restored the instrument to perfect order and got a sum of five pounds from the university. The university also provided him a room within the college for his future services.
The university incident was like a boon to Watt and here came a turning point in his life. He was now among his equals and superiors for the first time. In the summer of 1757, he was hired as ‘Mathematical Instrument Maker to the University.’ The School of Science attracted many lecturers among which was the distinguished Joseph Black who later on played an inspiring part in Watt’s life.
Life now was looking up for Watt. He was enjoying his work in the University. He wrote to his father, "Unless it be the Hadleys instruments, there is little to be got by it, as at most jobs I am obliged to do the most of them myself and as it is impossible for one person to be expert at everything, they often cost me more than they should do."
If not wealth, James was certainly acquiring something precious – scientific wisdom. He had exceptional opportunities not only to master the theory of the working of his instruments, but also to develop a sound and instructive background of formal science, to a degree, perhaps, denied even to many of the students of the college itself. James’ intellect was a natural gift. When students and staff dropped in at the workroom for a chat, no doubt the subject would be directly related to the work in hand, but soon James’ innate qualities, his quick brain and skillful hands were recognized for their high intrinsic worth and he came to be regarded not as an employee but as a friend of the college.
After the death of Professor Dick, John Anderson succeeded the Chair of Natural Philosophy and through him Watt came within the influence of Joseph Black. Black was a pioneer in the history of Aeronautics. Black once wrote "I found him to be a young man possessing most uncommon talents for mechanical knowledge and practice, with an originality, readiness and copiousness of invention which often surprised and delighted me in our frequent conversions together." The friendship of Black and Watt remained firm and affectionate for the whole of their lives. Watt once wrote in a tribute to Black "To him, I owe in great measure my being what I am; he taught me to reason and experiment in natural philosophy, and was always a true friend and adviser."
The other friend of Watt at Glasgow was another great scientist Dr. John Robinson. If not initiated, he certainly aided great advances in science. Robinson once remembered about Watt in such words : "I saw a workman and expected no more; but was surprised to find a philosopher, as young as myself, and always ready to instruct me. I had the vanity to think myself a pretty good proficient in my favorite study, and was rather mortified at finding Mr. Watt so much my superior."
As time passed Watt’s business, particularly sales and service of instruments to the public outside the college, grew rapidly. The need for capital in the business forced Watt to enter into a partnership with John Craig, who was an architect. Craig also agreed to attend to the business work relieving Watt considerably.
Boulton And Watt
A new chapter opened in his life with a new business partnership with Matthew Boulton. Of all the partnerships that James had had, his partnership with Boulton was the most successful of them all, popularly known as – ‘Boulton and Watt.’ It not only brought influence, wealth and business, but also warmhearted friendship.
A New Life Partner
Soon after the beginning of his partnership with Boulton, James Watt married Ann McGregor, who was the daughter of a Glasgow dyer. With the children of the first marriage to be looked after, James was influenced by the lack of a home life for them. This successful marriage gave Watt a domestic life and companionship, which was a boon to his temperament and physical ailment. Ann was a woman with "thrifty and far seeing habits of the most enlightened Scotch housewifery." The extent of her passion for cleanliness was such that, "Two little pug-dogs were taught by her never to cross the unsullied flags of the hall without wiping their feet on the mats, placed at every door or entrance."
The two children by the second marriage unfortunately died at an early age. James and Ann not only enjoyed 43 years of married life, but they also loyally cared for each other. Ann closely followed James’ interests in technical matters concerning business which was evident from the letter James wrote to Ann having information of a furnace, "We had a first trial yesterday of a large furnace to burn without smoke under the big boiler at Soho that used to poison Mr. B’s garden so much; and it answered very well as far as we could judge from a wet furnace, and without the engines being at work." Ann never failed in doing her duty in bringing up the two children of her husband’s first marriage. James Watt’s prosperity led to a better home in size and comfort and also the acquisition of a 40 acres of land at Handsworth Heath. Here, he built a beautiful house named Heathfield. James in his advancing years wanted to take it easy and hence wanted his son’s active participation in business. The firm was reconstituted in 1794 to allow his sons into partnership but his son, young Gregory Watt, full of promising abilities, died later of tuberculosis, leaving his father in great sorrow.
The Lunar Society
At the age of 64, Watt finally retired from the business in the year 1800. In his leisure, Watt stayed on at the Heathfield home in the company of his Birmingham friends. He enjoyed the activities and meetings of a group of intellectuals called Lunar Society. Other members of the group were Dr. Darwin, grandfather of the famous naturalist; Baskerville, the printer; Joseph Wedgwood; and Joseph Priestley, the brilliant chemist and champion of liberty. In 1785, Watt was elected Fellow of the Royal Society.
In his later years, Watt seemed in excellent shape and was physically active. His headaches and ill health disappeared due to the relaxed life. He mellowed with time, reflecting a serenity of soul, a feeling he was experiencing for the first time in his long life.
At Heathfield, a workshop was set up where at his leisure Watt carried on with his invention purely as a hobby and not business. When Heathfield was pulled down in 1924, the owner J.M. Gibson Watt presented the workshop to the British nation.
Friends Passing Him By
As years advanced, Watt outlived his friends. In December 1799, Watt lost his friend philosopher and guide Dr. Black. Darwin died in 1802. Watt wrote, "he was almost my most ancient acquaintance and friend in England. It will be my pride while I live that I have enjoyed the friendship of such a man." The severe shock of the death of his brilliant son Gregory came in 1804 and a year later he lost Dr. Robison, his other great counselor and friend of younger days." Watt wrote, "He was a man of the clearest head and the most science of anybody and his friendship to me ended only with his life after having continued for nearly half a century." Last of all came the real great loss of his old friend and partner, Mathew Boulton in 1809. Boulton was 82.
A Life Worth Having Lived
The last years of Watt’s life were very happy. His retiring nature, perhaps, kept him away from opportunities that offered to share in developing the application of steam power to land and sea locomotion.
The Watt engine and its variants became a part of the nation. The days of monopoly ended and the market was open for everybody. He said, "I have spent a long life in improving the arts and products of the nation. My inventions at present, or lately, giving employment to the best part of a million of people, and having added many millions to the natural riches, and therefore I have a natural right to rest in my extreme old age."
Watt died at the age of 84 at his home at Heathfield on August 25, 1819. He was buried beside his old friend and partner, Mathew Boulton, in the Handsworth Parish Church. A Chantrey statue of him in marble was placed in the Westminster Abbey in 1824.
The world shall always look up to James Watt as one of the most brilliant engineers and a pioneer in his own right.
If the question were asked : "Who is the most famous British engineer ?", the first answer that would immediately come to one's lips would be James Watt. A highly intellectual person as well as a distinguished gentleman, James Watt directed the forces of an original genius, and also exercised in philosophic research. His magnificent acumen eventually resulted in the improvement of the steam engine, enlarging the resources of his country, and in doing so increased the power of mankind,and rose to an eminent place among the most illustrious followers of science and the real benefactors of the world.
January 19, 1736 Born in Greenock, WC Scotland, UK.
1753 Went to Glasgow to become a Mathematical Instrument Maker.
1755 Went to London to gain apprenticeship of of an instrument maker.
1757 Returned to Glasgow, where he obtained a position of "Mathematical Instrument Maker to the University".
1759 Started a shop in Saltmarket to make all kinds of instruments and toys.
1764 Married Margaret Miller.
University invited him to repair the Newcomen engine, a non-working model.
1765 Introduced a separate condenser unit in the Newcomen engine which was previously repaired.
1768 Made a prototype of his improved steam engine with his partner, John Roebuck.
1769 Took patent for "A New Invented Method of Lessening the Consumption of Steam and Fuel in Fire Engines."
1772 Dissolved partnership with Roebuck.
1773 Death of his first wife, Margaret Miller.
1775 Entered into a partnership with Matthew Boulton.
1776 Watt and Boulton built their first two engines.
Married Ann McGregor.
1781 He invented a rotary motion device for his steam engine.
1782 Patented double-acting engine, in which piston pulls and pushes.
1785 Watt and Boulton were elected as members of the Royal society of London.
1786 Invented the centrifugal governor for automatic control of the engine’s speed.
1790 Invented a pressure gauge.
August 25, 1819 Death of James Watt.
"Because of a certain singing teakettle we now have the puffing engine. Young Watts heard the song. He figured that what made it sing would make something go, if only it could be hitched up right."
Many people have a vague sort of impression that Watt "invented" the steam engine locomotive. As with Sir Isaac Newton and the story of the falling apple, they also associate with Watt and his steam engine, a story involving a steaming kettle of boiling water. In both cases, the facts are obscured by fancy. James Watt did not invent the steam engine locomotive, but he did invent a steam engine.
James Watt first handled the problem of steam power in 1759. On how the subject was introduced to him he wrote, "My attention was first directed in the year 1759, to the subject of steam engines, by the late Dr. Robison, then a student in the University of Glasgow, and nearly of my own age. He at that time threw out an idea of applying the power of the steam engine to the moving of carriage wheels, and to other purposes; but the scheme was not matured, and was soon abandoned on his going abroad." Though James was busy in his shop, the thoughts of engines bothered him from time to time.
Meanwhile, Dr. John Anderson, who was a professor at the University of Glasgow, invited James to repair the Newcomen engine model, which was not working properly. Watt tried his hands on the engine and soon found the fault. He resolved the problem primarily in two stages. Firstly he solved the problem of the heating of the cylinder by spraying a coolant inside it. He also realized that the failure of the model was due to a large part of steam going waste. This loss of steam was estimated to be three quarters of the steam coming from boiler. Watt step by step proceeded in solving each of its problems. He also experimented with certain parts of the engine. His quick sense and high skill made him an expert in repairing the engines. He substituted the material of certain components of engines and studied their properties microscopically. He experimented on the relationship between the volume of a given quantity of water and the temperature at which it reached its boiling point. His researches and experiments provided an ideal for making a separate condenser unit in engines, that which was ultimately needed. He gave certain theories, which helped other engineers while making new improved engines.
Watt Invents First Steam Engine
After conducting a series of experiments, Watt finally invented an engine that completely operated on steam. Until now Newcomen’s engine functioned on atmospheric pressure, as the driving power source was the pressure of the atmosphere, working against an evacuated space on the underside of the piston, produced by the condensation of steam. On other hand, Watt’s engine functioned on steam pressure. Watt constantly made several changes in the engine that he had designed. Finally in the year 1769 his invention took shape. The engine he invented completely operated on steam power. He immediately obtained a patent for his invention.
He produced several engines of similar kind in a room hired in an old pottery. Dr. John Roebuck initially helped him with finances. Watt worked for Dr. Roebuck’s firm, Carron Iron works, producing engines.
Roebuck promised him to pay Watt’s outstanding debts of £1000 and to bear the cost of future experiments. In return he demanded two-thirds of the property and profits of the invention. They made several such engines and sold them in the market. Things were fine until suddenly they were faced with troubles in the sale of engines. Moreover, even Watt was not keeping good health. He took a break and did not pursue any further research. Business was declining day by day. In such a condition of ill health, he wrote to Roebuck, "How much would health and spirits be worth to me," and later he wrote, "…of all things in life there is nothing more foolish than inventing." It was obvious that their first venture had not succeeded and soon his partner Roebuck went bankrupt, freeing Watt from partnership.
A year later, James went to London to attend a business meeting. There he met Matthew Boulton, who was a friend of Dr. Roebuck. In fact, after the bankruptcy it was Dr. Roebuck who had advised James to meet Mr. Boulton. Mr. Matthew Boulton was a British Industrialist. Watt now entered into a new partnership with Boulton. They established a firm in Birmingham to manufacture the engines that were in great demand, because their engine could give adequate power, quite independently of the water supply. It was economical too. They set up a new foundry at the Soho building, where they re-erected their manufactured engines. They experimented on their engines with a view to improve its quality.
One of the most important matters they had to encounter was that regarding the patent of the engine. Originally, the patent was granted for 14 years, among which six had already passed. Boulton felt that with such a short period remaining, he would not be able to recover the money he had invested. He had only two alternatives before him, firstly, to surrender the patent and take up a new one and the second was to extend the existing patent. Boulton opted for the first alternative while Watt for the second. Finally they settled on the decision of the British Parliament. The Parliament granted them with the sole privilege to make and sell their engines in Great Britain for a term of 25 years. The firm prospered rapidly and soon they were granted similar extensions of patents. They manufactured "guns, cannon, fire engines, cylinders, pipes and sugar rolls."
The Bloomfield engine was the first to be demonstrated on March 8, 1776. The demonstration was staged impressively before an audience that included the proprietors of the colliery, a "number of scientific gentlemen" and representatives of the Birmingham Gazette. These later reported how "curiosity was excited to see the first movement of so singular and powerful a machine; and whose expectations were fully gratified by the excellence of its performance." The engine was indeed a success, and with it the future of the firm of Messrs. Boulton & Watt was assured. Power for power, Watt’s engine consumed only about a quarter of the fuel required by the Newcomen engine, and soon orders began to flow in from many directions. The success of the demonstration marked the beginning of prosperity and fame for James Watt.
• Elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1784.
• Elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of London.
• Awarded the degree of LL.D from the University of Glasgow.
• Elected as honorary member of the Batavian Society of Rotterdam in 1787.
• In 1814, the Academic des Sciences of Paris honored him by electing him as one of the eight Associes Etrangers
