James Watt was the creator of numerous significant inventions

James Watt was a Scottish chemist, inventor, engineer, and musical instrument maker who was born in 1736. Watt decided at the age of 17 that mathematical instrument making was his passion, so he went to university and then found a master instrument maker to train him in the craft. Having said that, James Watt was a great inventor who made significant contributions to modern machines and the industrial revolution.

While he is best known for inventing the steam engine, his list of accomplishments extends far beyond this single revolutionary invention. Watt coined the term horsepower to describe the amount of power used by his steam engine. One horsepower represents 746 watts of energy or 550 foot pounds per second. Watt developed a rotary engine to replace less efficient piston engines in factories, based on the concept of a steam-powered engine. Watt also invented the tachometer, which was used to measure the rotational speed of a steam engine's shaft. This was not only used in steam engines at the time, but it is now used in moving vehicles as well. Watt's invention of the micrometer enabled him to make precise measurements between geographic features after modifying a telescope to see distance. Watt's next project was to develop a new method of bringing clean water into populated areas. With his flexible water main, he was able to accomplish this. Watt is also credited with inventing the first copy machine.