The Power to Change the World : James Watt (1736-1819) - A Life in 50 Objects

James Watt (1736-1819) transformed the steam engine - the most significant invention of the Industrial Revolution.

Without Watt there would have been no locomotives, steamships or factories where machines were energised by coal. Watt was, however, much more - a scientist who also developed the concept of horsepower, made the first commercial copying machine and gave his name to a unit of power - the Watt.