James Watt

James Watt, a Scottish instrument maker, mechanical engineer and inventor, was renowned for his improvements of steam engine technology.http://library.thinkquest.org/C006011/english/sites/watt_bio.php3?v=2 The steam engine along with other inventions of Watt contributed to the industrial revolution of nineteenth century.http://www.history.rochester.edu/steam/carnegie/ch8.html

Watt was elected a fellow of Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1784 and a fellow of Royal Society of London in 1785.http://www.royalsoced.org.uk/fellowship/fells_indexp2.pdfhttp://library.thinkquest.org/C006011/english/sites/watt_bio.php3?v=2 The unit of electrical and mechanical power, the watt, is named in his honor.http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/637663/watt Watt also invented the centrifugal, or flyball, governor in 1788, as well as the pressure gauge in 1790.http://library.thinkquest.org/C006011/english/sites/watt_bio.php3?v=2 In 1806, the University of Glasgow conferred a doctor of law degree on Watt.http://www.nahste.ac.uk/isaar/GB_0237_NAHSTE_P0255.html

Watt went to London in 1755 and learned to make mathematical instruments for one year.http://books.google.com/books?id=266fMeZaDm8C&pg=PA14&lpg=PA14&dq=james+watt+london+1755&source=bl&ots=HzsWeUaz1Y&sig=qaVSizK50ZElS8BInHdpn0W9slg&hl=en&ei=YUHpTNK8Foqlnwfqo5mxDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CB8Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false Watt returned to Glasgow in 1756 and opened a shop at University of Glasgow.http://www.egr.msu.edu/~lira/supp/steam/wattbio.html In 1763, he started to experiment with steam engine technologies while repairing a Newcomen steam engine.http://www.egr.msu.edu/~lira/supp/steam/wattbio.html Watt invented a separate condenser in 1765 and nullified Newcomen steam engine's worst defect: loss of latent heat.http://www.egr.msu.edu/~lira/supp/steam/wattbio.html

Watt started to work as a land surveyor in 1766 and laid out possible routes for the Forth and Clyde canal and the Caledonian Canal in Scotland.http://www.electricscotland.com/history/men/james_watt.htm He went on to invent an attachment that made telescopes suitable for the measurement of distances.http://library.thinkquest.org/C006011/english/sites/watt_bio.php3?v=2 Watt associated himself with Matthew Boulton, a businessman from Birmingham to begin manufacturing steam engines in 1775.http://library.thinkquest.org/C006011/english/sites/watt_bio.php3?v=2

Watt invented the rotary-motion steam engine in 1781 and the double action steam engine in 1782.http://www.egr.msu.edu/~lira/supp/steam/wattbio.htmlhttp://www.electricscotland.com/history/men/james_watt.htm Watt was often involved in legal proceedings to protect his patents.http://www.electricscotland.com/history/men/james_watt7.htm His other inventions related to steam engine are sun and planet gear, steam indicator, pressure gauge and centrifugal or flyball governor.http://www.electricscotland.com/history/men/james_watt.htmhttp://library.thinkquest.org/C006011/english/sites/watt_bio.php3?v=2

I have much contrived and little executed. How much would good health and spirits be worth to me!http://www.electricscotland.com/history/men/james_watt4.htm

James Watt

The public only look at my success and not at the intermediate failures and uncouth constructions which have served me as so many steps to climb to the top of the ladder.http://www.electricscotland.com/history/men/james_watt4.htm

James watt

• 1736: Born

• 1757: Opened a mathematical instrument shop at university of Glasgow

• 1763: Repaired a Newcomen steam engine and started working on it's improvement

• 1765: Invented a separate condenser for steam engine

• 1766: Became a land surveyor

• 1775: Associated with Matthew Boulton and started manufacturing steam engines

• 1781: Invented rotary-motion steam engine

• 1782: Invented double action steam engine

• 1785: Became a fellow of the Royal Society of London

• 1788: Invented centrifugal or flyball governor

• 1790: Invented pressure gauge

• 1819: Died