James Watt
Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer whose 1769 separate condenser patent transformed Thomas Newcomen's atmospheric engine into a practical, fuel-efficient power source. His 1782 rotary motion adaptation enabled factories, mills, and eventually railways. Working with Matthew Boulton at the Soho Manufactory, Watt produced 496 engines by 1800. A member of the Lunar Society of Birmingham alongside Erasmus Darwin, Joseph Priestley, and Josiah Wedgwood.
- Lived: 1736 CE – 1819 CE
- Nationality: Scottish
- Roles: inventor, engineer
