Watt, James, Encyclopaedia Britannica 1911

What it is

This entry on James Watt comes from the eleventh edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, published in 1911. It describes his birth in Greenock, his training as an instrument maker, and his work developing the modern condensing steam engine.

Why it matters

This article shows how Watt was understood by scholars more than a century after his most important work, when the steam engine had already transformed industry. It is a secondary, reference-style account rather than a firsthand record of his life.

Look closer

• What details does the article give about Watt's early struggles, and why might these be included?
• How does an encyclopedia entry differ from a letter written by Watt himself?
• Why might later writers focus on certain parts of Watt's life, like his training or inventions, over others?