(January 30, 1736 – August 25, 1819)
With several patents in his portfolio, James Watt was among the leading inventors of his generation. As the pioneer whose steam engines powered the Industrial Revolution, his influence was enormous. Although he abandoned his apprenticeship (in instrument making) before the recommended 7 years period elapsed, he learnt enough as to invent the modifier, which enabled telescopes to be used for measuring distances. He dwelt on practicality: striving to find applications for whatever science he learned. That was why his preoccupation with chemistry centered on devising a way of making bleaching agent. He succeeded with his father-in-law, but failed to make his method cost-effective (on industrial scale). Watt also made inroads in his quest for a copier. But the cumbersome techniques involved diminished demand for his contrivance. As obvious today, it was the steam engine technology that immortalized his name. Aware of how inefficient Thomas Newcomen’s engines were, he designed an efficient machine: equipped with separate condenser. This trumped Newcomen’s, whose cylinders needed cycles of cooling and reheating. The multipurpose use of his engines was further enhanced by the rotary motion he incorporated into them. Thus, his design dominated and transformed both industries and transportation. Apart from steam engine, James Watt established the imperial unit of measuring power, known as the Horsepower. He used it to comparatively evaluate the outputs of various steam engines: long before turbines, pistons, and electric motors were invented. Various honors were showered upon him; and the term Watt was designated the S.I. unit for power.
Respect to one of the heroes of Industrial Revolution.
One of the best science websites I ever seen.
Topnotch!
Great pillar of Industralisation
I appreciate the great contributions he and others made. But I am also thinking that solar energy was there for ages waiting to be harnessed. We humans have come a long way.
Excellent gold sticks & coils 😛
Awesome! Your skills and knowledge are obvious within these write-ups.
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Like!! Really appreciate you sharing this blog post. Really thank you! Keep writing.
Wonderful articles and web pages
Great inventor!
Truly great!
JAMES WATT – SAPAVIVA – Still powerful after all these years
Worthy of praise!
Thanks, I’m a big fan.
Archetype of a hands-on inventor
Very interesting, thanks for putting it up.
You’ve made my day.
He’s the 10 kiloWATTs researcher. Enough said!
This is the subject of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Timeless.
I’m impressed by his practical approach.