Biography James Watt

1 biography

1.1 watt , kettle
1.2 experiments steam
1.3 first engines
1.4 patent trials
1.5 copying machine
1.6 chemical experiments
1.7 personality
1.8 soho foundry
1.9 later years

biography

bust of watt in scottish national portrait gallery

james watt born on 19 january 1736 in greenock, renfrewshire, seaport on firth of clyde. father shipwright, ship owner , contractor, , served town s chief baillie, while mother, agnes muirhead, came distinguished family , educated. both presbyterians , strong covenanters. watt s grandfather, thomas watt, mathematics teacher , baillie baron of cartsburn. despite being raised religious parents, later on became deist.

watt did not attend school regularly; schooled @ home mother later attended greenock grammar school. exhibited great manual dexterity, engineering skills , aptitude mathematics, while latin , greek failed interest him.

when eighteen, mother died , father s health began fail. watt travelled london study instrument-making year, returned scotland, settling in major commercial city of glasgow intent on setting own instrument-making business. made , repaired brass reflecting quadrants, parallel rulers, scales, parts telescopes, , barometers, among other things. because had not served @ least 7 years apprentice, glasgow guild of hammermen (which had jurisdiction on artisans using hammers) blocked application, despite there being no other mathematical instrument makers in scotland.

watt saved impasse arrival jamaica of astronomical instruments bequeathed alexander macfarlane university of glasgow, instruments required expert attention. watt restored them working order , remunerated. these instruments installed in macfarlane observatory. subsequently 3 professors offered him opportunity set small workshop within university. initiated in 1757 , 2 of professors, physicist , chemist joseph black famed adam smith, became watt s friends.

at first worked on maintaining , repairing scientific instruments used in university, helping demonstrations, , expanding production of quadrants. in 1759 formed partnership john craig, architect , businessman, manufacture , sell line of products including musical instruments , toys. partnership lasted next 6 years, , employed sixteen workers. craig died in 1765. 1 employee, alex gardner, took on business, lasted twentieth century.

in 1764, watt married cousin margaret (peggy) miller, whom had 5 children, 2 of whom lived adulthood: james jr. (1769–1848) , margaret (1767–1796). wife died in childbirth in 1772. in 1777 married again, ann macgregor, daughter of glasgow dye-maker, whom had 2 children: gregory (1777–1804), became geologist , mineralogist, , janet (1779–1794). ann died in 1832. between 1777 , 1790 lived in regent place, birmingham.

watt , kettle

there popular story watt inspired invent steam engine seeing kettle boiling, steam forcing lid rise , showing watt power of steam. story told in many forms; in watt young lad, in others older, s mother s kettle, aunt s. james watt of course did not invent steam engine, story implies, dramatically improved efficiency of existing newcomen engine adding separate condenser. difficult explain not familiar concepts of heat , thermal efficiency. appears story of watt , kettle created, possibly watt s son james watt jr., , persists because easy children understand , remember. in light can seen akin story of isaac newton, falling apple , discovery of gravity.

although dismissed myth, stories story of james watt , kettle has basis in fact. in trying understand thermodynamics of heat , steam james watt carried out many laboratory experiments , diaries record in conducting these used kettle boiler generate steam.

early experiments steam

james eckford lauder: james watt , steam engine: dawn of nineteenth century, 1855



original condenser watt (science museum)

in 1759 watt s friend, john robison, called attention use of steam source of motive power. design of newcomen engine, in use 50 years pumping water mines, had hardly changed first implementation. watt began experiment steam, though had never seen operating steam engine. tried constructing model; failed work satisfactorily, continued experiments , began read subject. came realise importance of latent heat—the thermal energy released or absorbed during constant-temperature process—in understanding engine, which, unknown watt, friend joseph black had discovered years before. understanding of steam engine in primitive state, science of thermodynamics not formalised 100 years.

in 1763, watt asked repair model newcomen engine belonging university. after repair, engine barely worked. after experimentation, watt demonstrated three-quarters of thermal energy of steam being consumed in heating engine cylinder on every cycle. energy wasted because later in cycle cold water injected cylinder condense steam reduce pressure. repeatedly heating , cooling cylinder, engine wasted of thermal energy rather converting mechanical energy.

watt s critical insight, arrived @ in may 1765, cause steam condense in separate chamber apart piston, , maintain temperature of cylinder @ same temperature injected steam surrounding steam jacket. little energy absorbed cylinder on each cycle, making more available perform useful work. watt had working model later same year.

the ruin of watt s cottage workshop @ kinneil house



cylinder fragment of watt s first operational engine @ carron works, falkirk

despite potentially workable design, there still substantial difficulties in constructing full-scale engine. required more capital, of came black. more substantial backing came john roebuck, founder of celebrated carron iron works near falkirk, whom formed partnership. roebuck lived @ kinneil house in bo ness, during time watt worked @ perfecting steam engine in cottage adjacent house. shell of cottage, , large part of 1 of projects, still exist rear.

the principal difficulty in machining piston , cylinder. iron workers of day more blacksmiths modern machinists, , unable produce components sufficient precision. capital spent in pursuing patent on watt s invention. strapped resources, watt forced take employment—first surveyor, civil engineer—for 8 years.

roebuck went bankrupt, , matthew boulton, owned soho manufactory works near birmingham, acquired patent rights. extension of patent 1800 obtained in 1775.

through boulton, watt had access of best iron workers in world. difficulty of manufacture of large cylinder tightly fitting piston solved john wilkinson, had developed precision boring techniques cannon making @ bersham, near wrexham, north wales. watt , boulton formed hugely successful partnership (boulton , watt) lasted next twenty-five years.

first engines

engraving of 1784 steam engine designed boulton , watt.

in 1776, first engines installed , working in commercial enterprises. these first engines used power pumps , produced reciprocating motion move pump rods @ bottom of shaft. design commercially successful, , next 5 years watt busy installing more engines, in cornwall pumping water out of mines.

these engines not manufactured boulton , watt, made others according drawings made watt, served in role of consulting engineer. erection of engine , shakedown supervised watt, @ first, , men in firm s employ. these large machines. first, example, had cylinder diameter of 50 inches , overall height of 24 feet, , required construction of dedicated building house it. boulton , watt charged annual payment, equal 1 third of value of coal saved in comparison newcomen engine performing same work.

the field of application invention widened when boulton urged watt convert reciprocating motion of piston produce rotational power grinding, weaving , milling. although crank seemed obvious solution conversion watt , boulton stymied patent this, holder, james pickard, , associates proposed cross-license external condenser. watt adamantly opposed , circumvented patent sun , planet gear in 1781.

over next 6 years, made number of other improvements , modifications steam engine. double acting engine, in steam acted alternately on 2 sides of piston one. described methods working steam expansively (i.e., using steam @ pressures above atmospheric). compound engine, connected 2 or more engines described. 2 more patents granted these in 1781 , 1782. numerous other improvements made easier manufacture , installation continually implemented. 1 of these included use of steam indicator produced informative plot of pressure in cylinder against volume, kept trade secret. important invention, 1 watt proud of, parallel motion essential in double-acting engines produced straight line motion required cylinder rod , pump, connected rocking beam, end moves in circular arc. patented in 1784. throttle valve control power of engine, , centrifugal governor, patented in 1788, keep running away important. these improvements taken produced engine 5 times efficient in use of fuel newcomen engine.

because of danger of exploding boilers, in primitive stage of development, , ongoing issues leaks, watt restricted use of high pressure steam – of engines used steam @ near atmospheric pressure.

patent trials

a steam engine built james watt s patent in 1848 @ freiberg in germany

edward bull started constructing engines boulton , watt in cornwall in 1781. 1792 had started making engines of own design, contained separate condenser, , infringed watt s patents. 2 brothers, jabez carter hornblower , jonathan hornblower jnr started build engines same time. others began modify newcomen engines adding condenser, , mine owners in cornwall became convinced watt s patent not enforced. started withhold payments due boulton , watt, 1795 had fallen. of total £21,000 (equivalent £1,990,000 of 2016) owed, £2,500 had been received. watt forced go court enforce claims.

he first sued bull in 1793. jury found watt, question of whether or not original specification of patent valid left trial. in meantime, injunctions issued against infringers, forcing payments of royalties placed in escrow. trial on determining validity of specifications held in following year inconclusive, injunctions remained in force , infringers, except jonathan hornblower, began settle cases. hornblower brought trial , verdict of 4 judges (in 1799) decisively in favour of watt. friend john wilkinson, had solved problem of boring accurate cylinder, particularly grievous case. had erected twenty engines without boulton s , watts knowledge. agreed settle infringement in 1796. boulton , watt never collected owed them, disputes settled directly between parties or through arbitration. these trials extremely costly in both money , time, successful firm.

copying machine

before 1780 there no method making copies of letters or drawings. method used mechanical 1 using linked multiple pens. watt @ first experimented improving method, gave on approach because cumbersome. instead decided try physically transfer ink front of original of sheet, moistened solvent, , pressed original. second sheet had thin, ink seen through when copy held light, reproducing original exactly.

watt started develop process in 1779, , made many experiments formulate ink, select thin paper, devise method wetting special thin paper, , make press suitable applying correct pressure effect transfer. of these required experimentation, had enough success patent process year later. watt formed partnership boulton (who provided financing) , james keir (to manage business) in firm called james watt , co. perfection of invention required more development work before routinely used others, carried out on next few years. boulton , watt gave shares sons in 1794. became commercial success , used in offices twentieth century.

chemical experiments

from age watt interested in chemistry. in late 1786, while in paris, witnessed experiment berthollet in reacted hydrochloric acid manganese dioxide produce chlorine. had found aqueous solution of chlorine bleach textiles, , had published findings, aroused great interest among many potential rivals. when watt returned britain, began experiments along these lines hopes of finding commercially viable process. discovered mixture of salt, manganese dioxide , sulphuric acid produce chlorine, watt believed might cheaper method. passed chlorine weak solution of alkali, , obtained turbid solution appeared have bleaching properties. communicated these results james mcgrigor, father-in-law, bleacher in glasgow. otherwise tried keep method secret.

with mcgrigor , wife annie, started scale process, , in march 1788, mcgrigor able bleach 1500 yards of cloth satisfaction. time berthollet discovered salt , sulphuric acid process, , published became public knowledge. many others began experiment improving process, still had many shortcomings, not least of problem of transporting liquid product. watt s rivals overtook him in developing process, , dropped out of race. not until 1799, when charles tennant patented process producing solid bleaching powder (calcium hypochlorite) became commercial success.

by 1794 watt had been chosen thomas beddoes manufacture apparatus produce, clean , store gases use in new pneumatic institution @ hotwells in bristol. watt continued experiment various gases several years, 1797 medical uses factitious airs had come dead end.

scientific apparatus designed boulton , watt in preparation of pneumatic institution in bristol


personality

watt combined theoretical knowledge of science ability apply practically. humphry davy said of him consider james watt great practical mechanic form erroneous idea of character; equally distinguished natural philosopher , chemist, , inventions demonstrate profound knowledge of sciences, , peculiar characteristic of genius, union of them practical application .

he respected other prominent men of industrial revolution. important member of lunar society, , sought-after conversationalist , companion, interested in expanding horizons. personal relationships friends , partners congenial , long-lasting.

watt prolific correspondent. during years in cornwall, wrote long letters boulton several times per week. averse publishing results in, example, philosophical transactions of royal society however, , instead preferred communicate ideas in patents. excellent draughtsman.

james watt s letters science museum library & archives in wroughton

he rather poor businessman, , hated bargaining , negotiating terms sought use steam engine. in letter william small in 1772, watt confessed rather face loaded cannon settle account or make bargain. until retired, concerned financial affairs, , of worrier. health poor. subject frequent nervous headaches , depression.

soho foundry

at first partnership made drawing , specifications engines, , supervised work erect on customers property. produced none of parts themselves. watt did of work @ home in harper s hill in birmingham, while boulton worked @ soho manufactory. gradually partners began manufacture more , more of parts, , 1795 purchased property mile away soho manufactory, on banks of birmingham canal, establish new foundry manufacture of engines. soho foundry formally opened in 1796 @ time when watt s sons, gregory , james jr. heavily involved in management of enterprise. in 1800, year of watt s retirement, firm made total of forty-one engines.

later years

an 1835 painting of heathfield , watt s house in handsworth, allen edward everitt



james watt s workshop

watt retired in 1800, same year fundamental patent , partnership boulton expired. famous partnership transferred men s sons, matthew robinson boulton , james watt jr. . longtime firm engineer william murdoch made partner , firm prospered.

watt continued invent other things before , during semi-retirement. within home in handsworth, staffordshire, watt made use of garret room workshop, , here worked on many of inventions. among other things, invented , constructed several machines copying sculptures , medallions worked well, never patented. 1 of first sculptures produced machine small head of old professor friend adam smith. maintained interest in civil engineering , consultant on several significant projects. proposed, example, method constructing flexible pipe used pumping water under clyde @ glasgow.

he , second wife travelled france , germany, , purchased estate in mid-wales @ doldowlod house, 1 mile south of llanwrthwl, improved.

in 1816 took trip on paddle-steamer comet, product of inventions, revisit home town of greenock.

he died on 25 august 1819 @ home heathfield in handsworth, staffordshire (now part of birmingham) @ age of 83. buried on 2 september in graveyard of st mary s church, handsworth. church has since been extended , grave inside church.