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 LXXII. Memoir of the late James Watt, Esq. F.R.S* 



James Watt, the great improver of tlie steam-engine, was born 

 at Greenock in 1736. His grandfather and uncle were botli 

 distinguished as mathematicians and land surveyors: and the lat- 

 ter was the author of a Survey of the river Clyde. His father, 

 James Watt, was a merchant and magistrate of Greenock, and a 

 zealous promoter of the improvements of that town. 



Of the early years of the, subject of this memoir, we r-hall only 

 state that he was educated in the public schools of his native 

 town, and that his constitution, wliich was of the most delicate 

 kind, led him, even in his boyish days, into those habits of stu- 

 dious retirement which accompanied him through life. His par- 

 tiality for the scientific arts soon developed itself, and at the age 

 of eighteen he went to London, and placed himself under the tui- 

 tion of an eminent mathematical instrument-maker; but ill-health 

 occasioned his return to Greenock in about a year, and this ap- 

 pears to be the only instruction he ever received. All the rest was 

 self-acquired : but so early had his talents developed themselves, 

 that in 1757, when he was in his 21st year, he was appointed 

 mathematical instrument-maker to the university of Glasgow, 

 with apartments in the college. From these he removed to the 

 town of Glasgow in 1764, upon his marriage with his cousin, 

 Miss Miller ; and in that and the subsequent year he invented 

 his improvements on the steam-engine. He soon after formed 

 a connexion with Dr. Roebuck, of KcnnicI, near Burrowstoneness, 

 to carry the invention into effect; but circumstances delayed his 

 taking out a patent until the year 1769. From the time of this 

 invention, until the year 1774, he followed the profession of a 

 civil-engineer, at Glasgow, and made many surveys of canals and 

 harbours ; several of the former of which have since been carried 

 into execution. The fortunate circumstance of his undertaking 

 the repairs of a model of a steam-engine, in itself of so little im- 

 portance, led to one of the greatest revolutions in mechanics that 

 has taken place by any one invention since the records of his- 

 tory. 



The invention of the plough, of the saw, and the application of 

 the power of horses or oxen to turn mills, took place in such early 

 ages, that those persons to whom mankind are indebted for then), 

 are not known either by name or by any authentic records ; but 

 we know that they were considered as demi-gods, and honoured 

 as such. The records of those inventors are I'abulous in their 

 details, but they are true as to the reality of the discoveries ; nor 

 is it wonderful that their origin should be unknown, when even 



* From the New Monthly Magazine and Literary Panorama. 



the 



