James Watt
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
Born in Greenock in 1736, the son of a ship's chandler (trader in canvas). Watt had little formal education due to poor health in his youth, but pottering about in his father's shop he developed an interest in trying to make things "work like clockwork".
In his late teens he went to London to learn to be a "mathematical and philosophical instrument maker", and when he returned to Glasgow he got a job making instruments with Glasgow University
In 1763 a colleague asked him to repair an early steam engine he had acquired. This early model, known as a Newcomen engine, was very inefficient. While working on it, Watt hit upon the idea of condensing the steam in a separate vessel. This removed the need for heating and cooling, making the steam engine faster, safer, and more fuel-efficient.
Apart from his steam research, which he originally carried out in the grounds of Kinneil House near Linlithgow, Watt was involved in many other projects. He solved the problem of how to convert the up-and-down piston movement to rotary movement (so that engines could power looms, bellows, and other mechanical devices), he created the term "horsepower", and he also invented the rev. counter and a letter copying press (a very early photocopier).
In 1882 the British Association gave his name to the unit of electrical power, hence when recording electrical output, the result is always noted in Watts.
In his late teens he went to London to learn to be a "mathematical and philosophical instrument maker", and when he returned to Glasgow he got a job making instruments with Glasgow University
In 1763 a colleague asked him to repair an early steam engine he had acquired. This early model, known as a Newcomen engine, was very inefficient. While working on it, Watt hit upon the idea of condensing the steam in a separate vessel. This removed the need for heating and cooling, making the steam engine faster, safer, and more fuel-efficient.
Apart from his steam research, which he originally carried out in the grounds of Kinneil House near Linlithgow, Watt was involved in many other projects. He solved the problem of how to convert the up-and-down piston movement to rotary movement (so that engines could power looms, bellows, and other mechanical devices), he created the term "horsepower", and he also invented the rev. counter and a letter copying press (a very early photocopier).
In 1882 the British Association gave his name to the unit of electrical power, hence when recording electrical output, the result is always noted in Watts.
