y purposes it
can be applied.

James Watt, the great utilizer of steam, was born in Greenock, Scotland,
January 19th, 1736. His father was a carpenter and general merchant in
Greenock, and seems to have been highly respected, for he was long a
member of the council, and for a time, magistrate. James was a sickly
child, unable to attend school with regularity, hence was left to follow
his own inclinations; becoming his own instructor, to a great extent.
The boy was early furnished with tools by his father, and with them
found amusement and instruction. He early manifested a taste for
mathematics and mechanics, studied botany, chemistry, mineralogy,
natural philosophy, and at fourteen constructed an electrical machine.

At the age of eighteen he was sent to Glasgow to learn to make
mathematical instruments, but for some reason he went to London the same
year, engaging with one Morgan, working at the same trade. Ill-health,
however, compelled his return home about a year later. He had made great
use of his time while in London, and after his health had improved
somewhat he again visited Glasgow with the desire of establishing
himself there, but met with opposition from some who considered him an
intruder upon their privileges. The Principal of the college,
appreciating his fine tact and ingenuity, offered him protection and
gave him an apartment for carrying on his business within their
precinct, with the title of "Mathematical Instrument Maker to the
University." But this location was unfavorable for his business. He was
scarcely able to make a living, however, the five or six years he passed
in those quarters were well employed in investigations, and during the
time he unmistakably manifested rare ability.

As soon as possible he secured a better situation in town, and after
this change did much better, still it is said: "He had to eke out his
living by repairing fiddles, which he was able to do, though he had no
ear for music," also, in doing any mechanical piece of work that came in
his way; no work requiring ingenuity or the application of scientific
knowledge seems to have baffled him. But he kept studying, devoting his
evenings and spare moments to the mastery of German, Italian, mastered
some of the sciences, learned to sketch, was a superior model-maker;
and, if his profession had been defined at the time he first turned his
attention to steam, having constructed an improved organ, he would have
been spoken of