Among “famous men,” Watt occupies a most distinguished position as a
real benefactor of the world. Though he stated that he knew only two
pleasures――idleness and sleep, study and business might not improperly
have been added. His industry and perseverance eminently qualified
him for a career of invention and enterprise, and he pursued it with
almost unparalleled success. His intellectual faculties were exercised
without ceasing to the end of his long and momentous life; he practiced
constant meditation; and he was thus enabled to minister more than any
of his contemporaries to the progress of material civilization.
James Watt was born on the 19th of January, 1736, at Greenock, where
his father was a merchant. He was first instructed in reading by
his mother, and then placed at a day-school; but being exceedingly
delicate, his attendance was somewhat irregular. When absent from
school, he was far from suspending the exercise of those faculties
which afterward accomplished so much; for his mind was of so inquiring
a nature, that he began almost in childhood to manifest a strong and
ardent taste for geometry and mechanics. This was probably, in some
measure, inspired by the example of his grandfather and uncle, both of
whom had excelled as teachers of mathematics.
It is related that a person one day calling on his father, and
observing the little boy busily occupied in drawing numerous lines on
the hearthstone with a piece of chalk, remarked that the child ought
to be sent to school, and not allowed to idle away his time in such a
manner.
“But,” said his father, “look what he is about before you condemn him.”
The gentleman then looked, and in no small degree was he surprised to
see that he was studiously attempting to solve a geometrical problem.
His natural bent thus becoming evident, his father encouraged it by
providing him with a set of tools; and he showed his comprehension of
the uses to which they might be put by forming several childish toys,
and among others, an electrical machine.
His mother’s relations resided in Glasgow, and there he frequently
went on a visit, when his ardent love of knowledge and his faculty
of learning were matters of considerable astonishment. Doubtless,
his rich and enthusiastic conversation enlivened some of the
extraordinary supper-parties, where the guests of the wealthy but
frugal traders, who altogether eschewed the idea of earlier or more
extensive entertainments, partook of the evening fare, and indulged
in the cold punch, just in such measure as the means or inclination
of the host permitted or prompted. At all events, it appears that he
had no objection to steal a few hours from the night when he could
find listeners to his various and interesting stories and enlivening
discourse.
On one occasion he was chidden by his aunt for continuing to take off
and put on the lid of a tea-kettle, holding by turns a cup and a silver
spoon over the steam, watching its rise from the spout, and catching
and counting the drops of water formed by condensation. So early was
his active mind engaged in investigating the “condensation of steam.”
Though he had given considerable attention to several other subjects,
mechanics was his favorite study; and in conformity with his own wish
he was, at the age of eighteen, indentured to an instrument-maker in
Cornhill, London, who employed him chiefly in preparing and adjusting
sextants, and other nautical instruments. His apprenticeship was
brought to a premature termination by a relapse of bad health, which
obliged him to return to the banks of the Clyde.
Some time after this a visit to Glasgow suggested to his mind the
scheme of commencing business there, with the little instruction he had
received. But not being qualified by the requisite freedom of craft or
guild, he had the mortification of finding that his plan was incapable
of being carried into execution. It was vain to plead or remonstrate.
The members of the corporate body, principally concerned, were deaf to
entreaty. They strenuously adhered to
“The good old rule, the simple plan,
That they should take who have the power,
And they should keep who can;”
and sternly refused him permission to open even the very humblest
workshop.
From this rather tantalizing difficulty, the University rescued
the man destined to increase the resources of his country, and add
immeasurably to the power of his species, by granting him a room within
the building, and appointing him mathematical instrument-maker to the
college. While in this position he executed some small instruments,
which still exist, and exhibit most skillful and dexterous workmanship.
His earliest drawings of steam-engines are likewise preserved, and are
described as being distinguished by neatness, strength, and accuracy of
outline. He enjoyed the favor and intimacy of several celebrated men,
who were then professors in the University; among whom were Adam Smith,
Professor Simson, and Dr. Black, whose discoveries in heat aided him
much in his inventions. Moreover, his workshop was the resort of all
such students as interested themselves in scientific matters. Indeed,
they are said to have consulted him as an authority almost conclusive,
when any difficulty presented itself which baffled their knowledge; and
Watt never allowed his course to be barred by any obstacle that could
possibly be overcome by resolute efforts of intellect, and a determined
application of industry. He studied anatomy, chemistry, and natural
philosophy, and occupied many a leisure hour with inquiries into the
nature of steam. Though unacquainted with the mysteries of music, he
undertook the construction of an organ, and, by dint of perseverance,
furnished an instrument exhibiting many improvements, and capable of
delighting the most fastidious performers. And all this time his daily
devotion to his business was most exemplary, and quite uninterrupted by
his reading or speculations, which were pursued in hours not taken up
with the labors of his craft. The principle upon which he then acted in
this respect guided him throughout life.
Before he reached the age of twenty-four, Watt’s attention had been
attracted to the employment of steam as a mechanical agent. His
friend, Mr. Robison――afterward Professor at Glasgow and Edinburgh――had
suggested its application to wheeled carriages, and they made
experiments together. Watt doubtless thought much, and submitted the
question to close, earnest, and vigilant study. But it was not till
1763 that his abilities were practically applied to the discovery,
which has associated his name inseparably with the progress of the
world. At that period the model of an engine was sent to him to be
repaired by the Professor of the Natural Philosophy class; and on
his examining it with care and attention, all the impressions which
he had conceived as to the imperfections of the atmospheric machine
were at once renewed in his mind. He therefore devoted himself to
its improvement with diligence and determination. He soon perceived
that the rapidity with which water evaporates depends simply on the
degree of heat that is imbibed, and that the latter circumstance is in
proportion to the vessel’s surface containing the water. He likewise
arrived by experiment at a knowledge as to the coals requisite for
the evaporation of any given quantity of water, the heat at which
it boils under various pressures, and several other points never
before ascertained with accuracy. Bringing his genius to bear on the
matter, he proceeded to attempt remedies for the two chief defects of
Newcomen’s engine――the necessity of cooling the cylinder before each
stroke of the piston by the injection of water, and the non-employment
of the engine as a moving power of the expansive force of the steam.
Having overcome the first defects by a process which saved three
fourths of the fuel required to feed the engine, and at the same time
added considerably to its power, Watt was gradually conducted to an
improvement which effectually removed the second imperfection; and thus
he effected the fundamental amendments in the engine, that, as has been
remarked, it appears a thing almost endowed with intelligence.
Having progressed thus far in his object, Watt had a difficulty of a
very formidable character to surmount; namely, that of bringing his
discoveries into public notice, without any considerable means of his
own at command. Moreover, he had to contend with the opposition of
such persons as conceived their interests to be at stake. However, he
had just provided himself with a witty, cheerful, and accomplished
wife, and thus furnished an additional spur to exertion. In this
emergency he applied to an early friend, Dr. Roebuck, who had just
founded the Carron Iron Works, to advance the requisite capital, which
was agreed to on condition of the profits being shared. A patent was
accordingly obtained, and an engine erected; but Roebuck soon after
meeting with reverses in his daring speculations, the sagacious
inventor was under the necessity of establishing himself in Glasgow as
a civil engineer, and as such obtained high reputation in furnishing
surveys and estimates for canals, and other public operations, of which
Scotland was then the scene.
At length, in the year 1774, he accepted the proposal of Mr. Boulton, a
celebrated hardware manufacturer in Birmingham, that he should remove
thither, and enter into partnership on equitable terms. An extension
of the patent was forthwith obtained for twenty-five years from that
date; and Watt’s genius having now a field, entered on its career of
public triumph. Though he shared the fate of most inventors in being
perpetually involved in lawsuits, he succeeded in realizing an ample
fortune. His scientific achievements were duly appreciated by those who
were qualified to judge of their merits; and in 1785 he was elected a
Fellow of the Royal Society, being subsequently chosen one of the eight
Foreign Associates of the French Institute. The University of Glasgow,
which had first befriended him, conferred the honorary degree of LL.D.
in 1806.
Near the end of his life he engaged in the construction of a machine
for copying pieces of statuary and sculpture. His friends claim for him
the distinction of having discovered the composition of water.
This illustrious mechanist passed the last years of his long and
memorable life in the society of his family and friends. He died August
25, 1819, in his eighty-fourth year, and was buried in the church of
Handsworth, near Heathfield, his residence in Staffordshire.
A monument to his memory, graven by the hand of Chantrey, was erected
in Westminster Abbey, and on it was placed this inscription by Lord
Brougham:
Not to perpetuate a name
Which must endure while the peaceful arts flourish,
But to show
That mankind have learned to honor those
Who best deserved their gratitude,
The King,
His Ministers, and many of the Nobles
And Commoners of the Realm,
Raised this Monument to
JAMES WATT,
Who, directing the force of an original genius, early
exercised in philosophical research, to the
improvement of the
Steam-engine.
Enlarged the resources of his country,
Increased the power of man,
And rose to an eminent place among the illustrious
followers of Science,
And the real benefactors of the world.