James Watt

James Watt was born on January 19, 1736 in Scotland. He worked as an instrument maker at the University of Glasgow. He worked with Joseph Black and studied the properties of steam.
In 1769 he patented a condenser for condensing steam. A few years later, he patented a steam engine used to pump water out of mines. Other inventions included a twin-action piston engine, used to obtain power from the expansion of steam inside a cylinder.
He also developed a centrifuge governor to hold a steam engine at a constant speed.
His steam engine, although not the first to be developed, was the first practice device for converting steam into useful work.
James Watt died on August 25, 1819