Watt's Improved Steam Engine

What happened

The Scottish engineer James Watt, developing his ideas from 1769, added a separate condenser that kept the main cylinder permanently hot, cutting fuel use to roughly a quarter of a Newcomen engine's. In partnership with Matthew Boulton he began selling the improved engines from 1776, and the pair made and sold close to 500 before their patent expired in 1800.

Why it matters

Efficient and adaptable, the Watt engine could power factories, mines, and machinery almost anywhere — making steam, not water, the driving force of industry.

Sources

• World History Encyclopedia. Watt Steam Engine · Reputable source