James Watt born Jan. 19, 1736, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scot. died Aug. 25, 1819, Heathfield Hall, near Birmingham, Warwick, Eng.

Scottish inventor James Watt made vast improvements to the steam engine, making it practical for large-scale industrial use. In 1764 Watt was given a Newcomen steam engine to repair. While working on the engine, he realized that it wasted energy. He eventually introduced a variety of modifications, including a separate cooling chamber for the steam that made the engine much more efficient.