James Watt is the inventor of a steam engine

James Watt was the one whose work culminated in the industrial revolution for England and the world. The engineer and inventor from Scotland was engaged in improving the machine Newcomen, as a result of which he invented his engine of universal purpose.

early years

James Watt was born in the family of the builder of ships and the creator of various mechanisms of James. His mother, Agnes, was a representative of a rich family, at one time she received an excellent education.

The future inventor was born on 19.01.1736. The boy was born very painful, therefore he received primary education from his parents at home. The child could not play with peers because of poor health, so most of his time he spent on self-education.

In adolescence, his favorite subjects were astronomy and chemistry. He also liked to make models of mechanisms that his father created.

After reaching the age of the primary school graduate, James entered the gymnasium. He showed great success in mathematics. He liked to read and much of it he tried to check in practice.

At the age of eighteen, the young man lost his mother. This affected the health and deeds of his father, so James had to take care of himself on his own. A young man moved from Scotland to London for a year to learn a craft that was related to measuring instruments. Official training was to be held for seven years, but James had enough money for only one year. He began his training with the production of rulers and compasses. Soon the young student could already make quadrants, geodolites and other complex instruments.

For this year the young man practically did not go out into the street. All the time he worked: in the mornings - on the owner, and in the evenings - to order. So he could feed himself. Moreover, due to the fact that he was not considered an official student, on the street he could be forcibly taken to the navy.

First job

After completing his studies, James Watt returned to Scotland with poor health. He decided to organize his own business in Glasgow, which was to create and repair tools. But he had to face an alliance of artisans who forbade him to engage in this work. The reason was that James did not go through formal training. It did not help even that he was the only representative of his business in Scotland.

But the young man is saved by chance. At this time, a batch of instruments for astronomy classes arrived at the University of Glasgow. They demanded constant attention, including installation. Through his acquaintances, Watt gets the opportunity to work. He was appointed master of scientific instruments of the educational institution. He had the opportunity to create his own workshop.

In the educational institution James meets Joseph Black, who was engaged in chemistry. The master helps the scientist in the development of some chemical devices that have advanced further studies of the chemist.

Since 1759, Watt's affairs have improved. This was facilitated by a partnership with businessman John Craig. They organized work on the production of various instruments and toys. The income of the inventor has increased significantly. Their partnership ended after six years because of Craig's death.

The period of invention

The steam engine of Newcomen existed for several decades. Most often it was used for pumping water. Nobody had even tried to improve it before. Since 1759, the idea of applying the couple interested in Watt, but his attempts were unsuccessful.

In 1763, a representative of the University in Glasgow asked the master to help in repairing the existing model of the creation of Newcomen. Watt was able to conduct a series of experiments with her. He was able to fix the layout and make sure of the inefficiency of this machine. Watt made some improvements in the design, but this was not enough.

Two years later, James Watt realized how to create a perfect steam engine. He began to implement what was planned. In 1769, he issued a patent for an isolated chamber for condensation. He was able to build a working model, which worked on this principle. To create a full-size car, he did not have the means. This helped Joseph Black, John Robak. The problems did not end, because it was impossible to achieve the necessary accuracy in the production of a cylinder and a piston. In addition, Robak became bankrupt.

Watt found a new sponsor. They became Matthew Bolton, who owned a foundry. The problem in the creation of the cylinder was decided by John Wilkinson. Commercial success from his invention Watt received through the creation of a joint company with Matthew Bolton, who worked twenty-five years and brought the inventor a great fortune.

Watt sought not only to improve the machine Newcomen, he wanted to create a model with a universal engine. All his attempts led to a new method in the work of the steam engine, which he patented under the name of the planetary motion. It was on this method that the first steam engine of James Watt began to work.

After the success of the new machine began multiple attempts to forge it. In the struggle for the reputation of their own cause, Watt and Bolton were forced to spend considerable money on litigation. As a result, they were able to defend their rights.

Implications

The patent for James Watt engine was registered in 1769. In the document it was determined that the author of the patent invented not a new machine, but a steam engine. Watt did not fully understand how important his improvement would be in the future.

The significance of the invention was that the piston was moved by the steam in the engine. Thanks to this, it was possible to increase the power many times, creating more pressure. It was no longer necessary to increase the dimensions. Thanks to the invention, it became possible to create a locomotive, and a little later a steamer.

Recognition of merit

Even during the life of the inventor, the machine of James Watt produced a revolution in industry. Not surprisingly, he was elected representative of many societies. He even wanted to be awarded the baron title, but he refused it.

Societies in which Watt was elected:

• The Royal Society in Edinburgh.
• Philosophical Society in Rotterdam.
• Corresponding member of the French Academy.
• The Lunar Society in Birmingham is an unofficial organization for scholars of the British Enlightenment.

Last years

The biography of James Watt proves how versatile he was. The heterogeneity of his knowledge was genuinely surprised by the writer Walter Scott, who was personally acquainted with the inventor.

In the last years of his life, Watt was engaged in a production machine that could copy sculptural works, such as bas-reliefs, statues, vessels and so on.

The master died on 19.08.1819, at the age of eighty-three. He was buried in Handsworth.

Family and Children

James Watt, whose inventions made a breakthrough in industry, was married twice. His first wife, Margaret Miller, died in 1772, giving birth to their fifth child. But until mature life, only two children lived, who were called, like their parents, James and Margaret.

The second wife was Anne McGregor in 1777. Their joint children were called Gregory and Janet.

Interesting fact

Watt proposed to use the name "horsepower" as the unit of measurement of power . However, in 1882, at the initiative of the British Association of Engineers, it was decided to assign a unit of capacity to the name of the inventor. Since that time in technology it is customary to use Watts. This happened for the first time in the history of technology.