I. James, A Scottish Inventor

A Scottish Inventor James, born in Greenock, Jan. 19, 1736, died at his estate of Heathfield, near Birmingham, Aug. 25,1819. He early manifested a taste for mathematics and mechanics, studied botany, chemistry, mineralogy, and natural philosophy, at 14 constructed an electrical machine, and at 18 went to Glasgow to learn to make mathematical instruments. He followed this trade in London in 1755-6, then returned to Glasgow, and was appointed instrument maker to the university. He devoted his evenings to the study of German, Italian, and music, and constructed an improved organ. In 1758 he began his experiments with steam as a propelling power for land carriages, which he temporarily abandoned*, and did not patent a road engine till 1784. He however continued his experiments with steam as a motive power; for his inventions and improvements, see Steam Engine, vol. xv., p. 340. For some years he devoted himself to land surveying, and to superintending the surveys and engineering works on the canal between the rivers Forth and Clyde and the Monkland collieries canal to Glasgow, deepening the Clyde, improving the harbors of Ayr, Port Glasgow, and Greenock, building bridges, and other public works; his final survey (1773) was for the Caledonian canal. During this period he also invented an improved micrometer.

In 1774 he became a partner of Matthew Boulton, founder of the Soho works near Birmingham, and in 1775 they began the manufacture of improved steam engines. The invention of the crank and fly wheel is disputed between Watt and Pickard; but to Watt is due the credit of inventing the separate condenser, the double-acting principle, parallel motion, the regulating action of the governor, and many more improvements. He was the first to apply steam to house warming (1784), though it had been before suggested. He visited Paris in 1786, and brought back to England Berthollet's process of bleaching with chlorine. In 1790 he purchased the Heathfield estate. He retired from the Soho firm in 1800, and afterward invented the letter-copying press. In 1809 he contrived a flexible iron pipe with ball and socket joints to adapt it to the irregular river bed, for carrying water across the Clyde. He was a fellow of the royal societies of London and Edinburgh, correspondent of the French institute, and foreign associate of the academy of sciences. He was buried beside Boulton in Handsworth church; his statue by Chantrey is in Westminster abbey, and a copy in bronze in front of the Manchester infirmary.

J. P. Muirhead published "The Origin and Progress of the Mechanical Inventions of James Watt" (3 vols. 8vo, London, 1854), and "Life of James Watt" (1858), with selections from his correspondence; and Lord Brougham, Samuel Smiles, and others have written his biography.

II. James

James, eldest son of the preceding, born Feb. 5,1769, died at his seat of Aston hall, near Birmingham, June 2, 1848. He studied chemistry, mineralogy, and natural philosophy, and for a time was secretary of the Manchester literary and philosophical society. In 1789 he went to Paris for scientific study, and was soon in sympathy with the revolutionary movements. At first he was in high favor with the leaders, but becoming averse to their excesses he was denounced before the Jacobin club by Robespierre and was obliged to flee to Italy. He returned to England in 1794, became a partner in the Soho firm, and took an active part in the progress of steam navigation. In 1817 he bought the Caledonia of 102 tons, fitted it with new engines, went in it to Holland and up the Rhine to Coblentz, and after his return made material improvements in marine engines.

III. Gregory

Gregory, half brother of the preceding, born in 1777, died Oct. 16, 1804. At 17 he became a member of the Soho firm, but continued to study at the university of Glasgow. In 1801-2 he was engaged in scientific researches on the continent. He wrote " Observations on Basalt, and on the Transition from the Vitreous to the Stony Texture, which occurs in the gradual Refrigeration of melted Basalt," etc. ("Philosophical Transactions," 1804). He had fused 7 cwt. of basalt, and suffered it to cool slowly in the mass; then, breaking it up, he had observed the structure of the different parts, the crystallization of the middle portion, which had necessarily cooled most slowly, being found the most complete.