Famous Scots - James Watt

James Watt - developer of the steam engine.

1736 - 1819

Throughout time, many great people could be found in Scotland. During the Scottish Enlightenment this held all the truer. One such man was James Watt, who played a vital role in the development of the steam engine.

James Watt was born in Greenock, in 1736. His father James Watt was a skilled craftsman and an influential figure in the town. Due to poor health, James Watt was taught at home.

James Watt did not attend any formal learning institutions like other famous Scots, but he did excel at mathematics and craftsmanship. Roughly at the same time James Watt’s mother died, his father’s money began to decline. James Watt decided to begin an apprenticeship in London, but his poor health affected him yet again, and he returned to Scotland in less then a year. The requirement for the apprenticeship was of seven years of training, and James Watt was denied by the Guild of Hammermen in Glasgow, meaning James Watt could not work as a professional tradesman.

He took a job as an instrument maker at Glasgow University. This position, allowed James Watt to make connections in the intellectual community, and expand his skills and knowledge. Some of his work revolved around steam engines, which would be his claim to fame in the future.

While still at the University of Glasgow, James Watt had an idea which would place him amongst other famous Scots. His idea revolved around an improvement to the conventional steam engine of the time, namely the addition of a condenser to a Newcomem steam engine, which would not waste the steam by expelling it. In fact, there is still a memorial at the spot in Glasgow Green, where James Watt had this idea.

James Watt was placed in charge of building of prototype of his new engine type, with John Roebuck from Carron Ironworks as a manufacturer. While the engine was being built, James Watt worked as a surveyor on the building site of Monklands Canal in Lanarkshire. Unfortunately, this job for James Watt was accompanied with the death of his wife, and the bankruptcy of his engine’s manufacturer. The manufacturing rights were brought by Mathew Boulton from Birmingham.

Once the engine was released, it became a large success. So much so that, Peter the Great of Russia offered James Watt a job at a salary of ₤1000 per year (he declined). The engines, came to be used in many mines around the Scotland, this was obviously a success, but brought worry to James Watt. He was quoted as saying “I am plagued by the blues; my head is too confused to do any brainwork”. He was referring to the mine captains who used his engine, but did not pay royalties. As an answer to his problem, William Murdoch joined James Watt in his steam engine business, and took care of the problem of the mine captains. Furthermore, William Murdoch refined the engine further, improving its efficiency.

By this time James Watt, was considerably wealthy, and decided to spend his time travelling. James Watt socialized with other famous Scots, like Sir Walter Scott and Andrew Carnegie. Later in his life, many honours were given to James Watt, most notably the naming of a unit of power after him, the Watt.