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Endurance Against Adversity
Another major reason of his not going out was the Seven Years’ War with France. James being a stranger had no rights in the city to claim the protection of the civil authorities. He wrote to his father : "They now press anyone they can get, landsmen as well as seamen, except it be in the liberties of the city, where they are obliged to carry them before my Lord Mayor first, and unless one be either apprentice or a creditable tradesman, there is scarce getting off again. And if I was carried before my Lord Mayor I durst not avow I wrought in the city, it being against their laws for an unfreeman to work, even as journeyman within the Liberties." |
Hectic
work schedule, scanty food, poor health and  confinement
indoors overstretched young James who was now feeling homesick.
Nevertheless, he was approaching his goal.
A
Good Master
James
was fortunate to have a good master. He wrote, "If it had not
been for Mr. Short, I could not have got a man in London that would
have undertaken to teach me, as I now find there are not above five
or six that could have taught me all that I wanted…though he
works chiefly in the brass way, yet he can teach me most branches
of the business, such as rules, scales, quadrants, etc."
Now
he had a deep sense of satisfaction "I think I shall be able
to get my bread anywhere, as I am now able to work as well as most
journeymen, though I am not so quick as many," he wrote.
After
his apprenticeship James returned home. He was 21, a fully trained
and competent manufacturer of mathematical instruments. He set out
to settle in Glasgow in October, envisaging a bright future.
Lady Luck Smiles
James’ intention in Glasgow was to set up a business for himself. Again he faced the same difficulty of being a foreigner. But this time, Lady Luck favored Watt and with his arrival in Glasgow, the University received a case of astronomical instruments from a rich merchant of Jamaica, as a present. But during shipping, the instruments were damaged and the services of an expert were required for overhauling. The first name that came to Dr. Dick's mind was that of James Watt. This was Watt’s opportunity to prove his skill. He restored the instrument to perfect order and got a sum of five pounds from the university. The university also provided him a room within the college for his future services.
The university incident was like a boon to Watt and here came a turning point in his life. He was now among his equals and superiors for the first time. In the summer of 1757, he was hired as ‘Mathematical Instrument Maker to the University.’ The School of Science attracted many lecturers among which was the distinguished Joseph Black who later on played an inspiring part in Watt’s life. |
A
Friend Of The College
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Life now was looking up for Watt. He was enjoying his work in the University. He wrote to his father, "Unless it be the Hadleys instruments, there is little to be got by it, as at most jobs I am obliged to do the most of them myself and as it is impossible for one person to be expert at everything, they often cost me more than they should do." |
If
not wealth, James was certainly acquiring something precious –
scientific wisdom. He had exceptional opportunities not only to
master the theory of the working of his instruments, but also to
develop a sound and instructive background of formal science, to
a degree, perhaps, denied even to many of the students of the college
itself. James’ intellect was a natural gift. When students
and staff dropped in at the workroom for a chat, no doubt the subject
would be directly related to the work in hand, but soon James’ innate qualities, his quick brain and skillful hands were recognized
for their high intrinsic worth and he came to be regarded not as
an employee but as a friend of the college.
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Firm And Affectionate Friendships
After the death of Professor Dick, John Anderson succeeded the Chair of Natural Philosophy and through him Watt came within the influence of Joseph Black. Black was a pioneer in the history of Aeronautics. Black once wrote "I found him to be a young man possessing most uncommon talents for mechanical knowledge and practice, with an originality, readiness and copiousness of invention which often surprised and delighted me in our frequent conversations together." The friendship of Black and Watt remained firm and affectionate for the whole of their lives. Watt once wrote in a tribute to Black "To him, I owe in great measure my being what I am; he taught me to reason and experiment in natural philosophy, and was always a true friend and adviser." |
The other friend of Watt at Glasgow was another great scientist Dr. John Robinson. If not initiated, he certainly aided great advances in science. Robinson once remembered about Watt in such words : "I saw a workman and expected no more; but was surprised to find a philosopher, as young as myself, and always ready to instruct me. I had the vanity to think myself a pretty good proficient in my favorite study, and was rather mortified at finding Mr. Watt so much my superior."
The
Venture
As
time passed Watt’s business, particularly sales and service
of instruments to the public outside the college, grew rapidly.
The need for capital in the business forced Watt to enter into a
partnership with John Craig, who was an architect. Craig also agreed
to attend to the business work relieving Watt considerably.
 The
business venture was an ultimate success. Gross sales had gone up
considerably. Watt had so far earned a wonderful reputation as a
mechanical expert who could even repair an instrument which he had
never seen before. Once to repair a musical instrument he started
studying the theory of music. Soon he was repairing and then making
guitars, violins, flutes and even organs. The wind organ made by
Watt for St. Andrews Church can still be seen. Now his activities
and interest began to grow. It not only included pottery works but
also experiments on steam and the steam engine, which later on transformed
his life.
Marriage
James
Watt was married in the summer of 1764. Very little is known of
this beyond the fact that he was engaged to his cousin, Margaret
Miller, in 1763 and that their wedding took place the following
year. His happy and successful married life began at a house owned
by him in Delftfield Lane. His happy marriage came to an end when
his wife whom he had described as "the comfort of my life,
a dear friend and a faithful wife," was seized with a serious
illness which, quickly proved fatal. It was a sad juncture of his
life when his wife died, leaving him with two young children, the
older not more than six years of age.
But
before the death of his loving wife, there were moments to cherish
for Watt. The invention of the first steam engine was ultimately
accomplished by his efforts and insight, and in 1769, and he was
given the patent for his great invention which was in itself a giant
leap in the realm of scientific inventions.
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