James Watt was born on this day, January 19th, in 1736 at Greenock, Scotland. He was a mechanical engineer and inventor who’s steam engine was a key ingredient in the start of the Industrial Revolution. For this and his other contributions to science and technology the SI unit for power was named the watt in 1960. For more information check out the biographical reference links below. I think I’ll celebrate his birthday buy having a piece of PIE (sorry couldn’t resist the bad EE geek joke).
Biographies:
Wikipedia
James Watt by Andrew Carnegie
James Watt by Thomas H. Marshall
Birmingham Jewellery Quarter – More about James Watt
James Watt: Important Scots
BBC – History – James Watt
Watt letters collection at the Cornwall County Council
Paul Hutchinson's Blog 